Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:41
Slade Green 1 Faversham Town 1
By Tony Gray
A stunning strike from Shane Hamshare earned the Lilywhites a share of the spoils at the Small Glen although the visitors really should have departed from Slade Green with all three points.
With strike Dane Luchford still suspended Craig Thompson made his Town debut up front along side Damian Abel.
Town started brightly closing down Slade Green at every opportunity, Abel had the first real chance of the game on 9 minutes, his strike from the edge of the box flying high above Danny Burke's goal.
Failure to retain possession from a throw-in deep into the Green's half cost the Lilywhites on 14 minutes, the ball finding the diminutive Juan Ramirez on the right side of play - Ramirez seized his chance beating the defender before turning to fire past Town keeper Kevin Readings.
Despite the setback Town continued to battle with Steve O'Brien and Hamshare both effective on their respective flanks with Abel and Johnson linking up well on occasions in the center.
As the half-time break approached Town could have levelled through a fine sole effort from Tom Hickman, Hickman's strike narrowly missing the far post with Burke well beaten.
After the break and Town continued to push forward although were restricted in creating chances on goal, this all changed on 65 minutes when manager Justin Luchford introduced Sean Hetterley into the fray replacing O'Brien on the right.
Hetterley's introduction saw the visitors ramp up the pressure as they dominated the last 30 minutes of the match, chances came thick and fast as the home side were forced to defend in numbers.
The Lilywhites deservedly levelled the score on 70 minutes, the ball falling to Hamshare some 30 yards from goal, his well struck effort flying high into the top left corner of Burke's net.
Further chances came and went, with Lee Shearer, Dave Soutan and Hickman all going close denied by a combination of stoic defending and some fine goal keeping from Burke.
Further changes saw Chris Oyebanjo come on for Thompson before Jamie Sparks left the pitch on a stretcher to be replaced by Ben Ives - Sparks'sufferingbruising to the leg following a heavy tackle.
A poor overall performance from the match officials culminated in the sending off of Town's Dave Soutan in the dying minutes following a minor tussle with a Green player, Referee Arnold demonstrating to the crowd of 86 that he could be inconsistent for the entire 90 minutes.
Faversham Town are on the road again this coming Saturday as they travel face Beckenham Town at Eden Park Avenue - kick-off at 15:00.
Town's Star Man: Shane Hamshare - worked hard for 90 minutes capped off with a 'cracker' of a goal.
Faversham Town: Kevin Readings (6); Jamie Sparks (6); Kris Richardson (6); Tom Hickman (7); Ashley Brown (6); Lee Shearer (c) (6); Shane Hamshare (8); Damian Abel (7); Craig Thompson (6); Dave Soutan (6); Steve O'Brien (7)
Substitutes: Sean Hetterley (for O'Brien 65 minutes) (7); Chris Oyebanjo (for Thompson 75 minutes) (6); Ben Ives (for Sparks 80 minutes) (6)
Unused: Carl Hodgson; Bradley Doyle.