Sunday, December 28, 2008 9:11
Herne Bay 1 Faversham Town 5
By Tony Gray
A solid team performance and a hat-trick from Steve O'Brien ensured that the Lilywhites rounded off 2008 in style, romping home to a 5 - 1 victory at Winch's Field against a Herne Bay side unbeaten in their last 9 matches.
With last Saturday's defeat to Orpington a distant memory manager Justin Luchford was able to recall Jamie Sparks and Kris Richardson into the back four along with Lee Shearer and Ashley Brown whilst Tom Hickman boosted the midfield after re-signing with the Salters Lane club following a period with Ryman side Margate.
The Lilywhites started brightly and could have taken an early lead after only 5 minutes, a well placed free-kick from Damian Abel looked destined for the top corner of Dan Eason's goal before the Bay keeper managed to tip the ball behind for a corner kick.
With Abel, Dane Luchford and Steve O'Brien all causing problems for the Bay defence it was only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken and Town didn't have to wait too long.
An Abel strike from the edge of the area on 17 minutes was blocked by the hands of a Bay defender and Referee Keith Scudder showed no signs of hesitation as he pointed to the penalty spot, Skipper Lee Shearer stepped up and made no mistake as he fired the ball home for his seventh goal of the season.
The visitors doubled their lead on 24 minutes courtesy of a well struck Steve O'Brien free-kick, O'Brien firing the ball into the top right of the goal only inches away from an outstretched Eason.
Town continued to dominate and Abel must have thought that he'd scored Town's third of the afternoon, his perfectly struck volley from 25 yards brilliantly saved by the impressive Eason.
Referee Scudder then decided to remind the crowd of 258 that Pantomime season is now under way as he dispatched Bay's Assistant Manager, Martin Chandler, to the stands for, what appeared to be, continued verbal abuse. Minutes later Chandler, also on the Bay bench as a named substitute, elected to warm up along the touchline only to be spotted by the eagle-eyed Scudder who immediately halted preceedings in order to give Chandler his marching orders for the second time in 10 minutes.
After the half-time break the home side appeared to have shaken off their post-Christmas lethargy and for the opening 10 minutes of the half had the Lilywhites on the back foot forcing errors from a now nervous Town defence.
Against the run of play Town extended their lead on 57 minutes, a well placed corner kick from O'Brien found the head of former Bay hero Dave Soutan in the six-yard box whose well placed header found the far corner of Eason's goal for Town's third of the afternoon.
Bay substitute Stuart King narrowed the defecit, converting the game's second penalty after being brought down by the combined efforts of Jamie Sparks and Town keeper Kevin Readings on 70 minutes.
With 20 minutes remaining any hopes of a Bay comeback were extinguished within 2 minutes of the restart, a through ball from Shearer finding Shane Hamshare in space on the right side of play, Hamshare's run taking him to the byline before whipping the ball into the area to find O'Brien who had the time to pick his spot as he fired home for his second of the afternoon.
Damian Abel made way on 76 minutes to be replaced by former Bay Captain Roy Guiver who, like Soutan, was facing his former side for the first time since arriving at Salters Lane.
O'Brien rounded off the scoring in spectacular style on 80 minutes, a cross from Guiver finding the Town striker on the left side of the Bay area, O'Brien's first touch sending the ball high into the roof of the Bay net for goal number five.
Not to be outdone Referee Scudder maintained his high profile by issuing marching orders to Bay's Manager Barry Morgan allowing him to be re-united with his assistant away from the technical area.
With the clock running down Luchford made two late substitutions with Ben Ives coming on for Tom Hickman on 83 minutes and Dane Luchford making way for Jacob Arnold-Smith with only seconds remaining.
Unsurprisingly the home side thought that they'd been hard done by although the truth of the matter is that they were clearly second best on the day.
Town hope to continue their climb up the table next Saturday when Salters Lane plays host to third placed Tunbridge Wells, kick-off at 15:00/
Town's Star Man - Steve O'Brien, three very well taken goals.
Faversham Town: Kevin Readings (8); Jamie Sparks (8); Kris Richardson (8); Tom Hickman (8); Ashley Brown (8); Lee Shearer (8); Shane Hamshare (8); Damian Abel (8); Steve O'Brien (9); Dave Soutan (8); Dane Luchford (8).
Substitutes: Roy Guiver (for Abel 76 minutes) (8); Ben Ives (for Hickman 83 minutes) (8); Jacob Arnold-Smith (for Luchford 88 minutes) (8)
Unused; Carl Hodgson; Dean Yorath