Wednesday, November 19, 2008 16:06
Hythe Town 1 Faversham Town 4
By Tony Gray
The Lilywhites thirst for goals continued as the Town side banged in four more away to third placed Hythe Town a win which sees the Salters Lane outfit move up to fourth position in the Bulmers Cider Kent Premier League.
Having netted 10 tines at the weekend against Sporting Bengal this short trip across the county was always going to stretch Justin Luchford's side and when the Town defence gifted Hythe's Dave Cook a goal after only six minutes memories from the weekend were all but forgotten.
Things took a turn for the worse when Town striker Mike McKenna had to be assisted from the pitch to be immediately dispatched to hospital nursing a suspected fracture to his left ankle.
With Sean Hetterley on for the injured McKenna Town attempted to steady the ship and, for the remainder of the first half, more than matched the home side on a very heavy Reachfields playing surface.
Chances on goal were few a far between for both teams with Town shot stopper Kevin Readings and his opposite number Paul Hyde virtual spectators.
On 41 minutes Town were back on level terms, a Damian Abel cross into the six yard box looked destined for the safety of Hyde's arms before the ball was spilled, falling to Sean Hetterley who tapped home with ease.
The second half got under way with, what seemed like a different Town side, sharper, faster and focused Luchford's team talk certainly appeared to do the trick and two minutes in and his side took the lead as younger brother Dane fired home from the edge of the area past a static Hythe keeper.
Three minutes later and the Lilywhites added their third, the ball falling to Luchford who cleverly lifted the ball over his marker some 30 yards from goal, as he ran towards the edge of the box Luchford unleashed a left footed strike which flew past the diving Hyde before smashing into the left hand post only to be deflected across the goal mouth into the path of Hetterley who made no mistake as he stroked the ball home.
The crowd of 174 seemed somewhat stunned as did the home side, there misery being completed on 52 minutes as Town added goal number four, a fine run from Hetterley finished with the ball being driven across the box towards the far post and being met by Abel who turned the ball into the net for his sixth goal in two matches.
With almost 40 minutes remaining Hythe had all but given up as the visitors played them off the park, further chances fell to Abel, Hetterley and Dave Soutan as the Lilywhites put in a near perfect team performance. Luchford made way for former Hythe favourite Roy Guiver on 75 minutes as Town continued to push forward with every opportunity.
In the latter stages Hythe tried to lift their game although, as in the first period, Readings had little to do, overall a magnificent display from a Town side growing in confidence with each game.
With such a fine team display it's hard to single players out but special mention must go to full backs Jamie Sparks and Kris Richardson - the two 17 year olds an outstanding endorsement of the youth policy at Salters Lane.
Town's Star Man - Dave Soutan, Difficult choice but yet again showed his class winning every ball and every tackle.
Faversham Town: Kevin Readings (7); Jamie Sparks (8); Ashley Brown (7); Dane Luchford (7); Mike McKenna (7); Lee Shearer(c) (7); Shane Hamshare (8); Damian Abel (8); Steve O'Brien (7); Dave Soutan (9); Kris Richardson (8).
Substitutes; Sean Hetterley (for McKenna 20 minutes) (7); Roy Guiver (for Luchford 75 minutes) (7) Unused: Carl Hodgson; Chris Eather; Wes Hammond.