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21st January 2007

By JAMES BROWN

Faversham Town 0 Hythe Town 0

JAMES HOLDER is back to his best and staying at Faversham Town for  
the rest of the season.

Skipper Holder pledged his allegiance to the Lilywhites in  
September last year after a seven-day approach from Sittingbourne  
boss Steve Lovell.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE...in-form Faversham Town skipper James Holder has  
rejected offers to move away from Salters Lane

And now Town manager Terry Cordice has again underlined the big  
defender's commitment to the cause after revealing at least three  
other clubs are chasing his signature.

Former Maidstone United player Holder is known to have been watched  
by Conference side Weymouth earlier this season but Cordice insisted  
the latest interest was from London .

Holder suffered a dip in form amid claims he was struggling to cope  
with the extra responsibility of captaining the side at the tender  
age of just 21.

But his performances have improved in 2007 culminating in a man-of-
the-match display in Town's 0-0 draw with Hythe Town at Salters Lane   
on Saturday.

Cordice said he was aware of clubs looking to sign the son of his  
assistant manager Peter Holder, but the 6ft 5in centre-half was  
staying put.

He explained: "I had a good chat with James a few weeks ago when  
he was a little bit disappointed with his performances but since then  
he has sorted himself out and is raring to go again.

"Two or three clubs have come in for him and we know who they are.

"We've not received anything official but we know that clubs both  
in this league and higher are after him.

"I don't want to say too much but I can confirm they are London   
clubs. However, I've spoken to him and he's ok here.

"He will be here for the rest of the season and that is great news  
for us. I thought he was our best player by far against Hythe."

Town struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in a Kent League  
Premier Division clash that had 0-0 written all over it long before  
the final whistle.

NOT SO HANDY, ANDY...striker Andy Martin runs into trouble during a  
Faversham attack

But it was a massive improvement on the 3-0 hammering the  
Lilywhites endured against Hythe at Reachfields in mid-October.

Faversham were truly awful that night and Cordice was thrilled to  
see his side bounce back after using the bitter memory of that  
hammering as a motivating tool.

He said: "This is probably a game we should have won but I have to  
praise the lads because they've responded well. I reminded them of  
the 3-0 defeat down at their place earlier this season when Hythe  
could've had ten.

"We're just a little bit unlucky the ball hasn't broken for us. If  
our luck had been better and we'd scored one then maybe we might have  
got two or three. It was one of those games when we just needed that  
little bit of luck.

"We worked hard as a team and definitely played as a team, but  
didn't get that rub of the green we deserved.

"The ball has gone into box for half chances but instead of having a  
go we're trying to score the perfect goal.

"They want that extra touch when sometimes you just have to swing a  
boot - either it goes in or it doesn't.

"We are struggling to score goals but we are looking threatening.  
Overall, I'm pleased with the performance."

Cordice - a qualified referee - was incensed by an offside flag  
that robbed Town of a clear one-on-one against Hythe goalkeeper Seb  
Barton.

He said: "I know you make your own luck in football but one went  
against us today. The decision I'm looking at is in the second half,  
when Steve Aslett has gone through on his own and the linesman has  
given Adam Oxberry offside.

"I'm not saying that Steve would've scored but it's something that's  
gone against us that might well have gone in our favour earlier this  
season.

"But having said that the lads have done really well. We've kept a  
clean sheet, we've worked hard and with a little bit of luck we  
probably could've nicked one."

Holder's first contribution against Hythe was unlikely to have  
impressed any scouts in a crowd of 207 - the biggest of the day in  
the Kent League.

He was shown a yellow card along with Barry Crawford after referee  
Phil Knight spotted an infringement at Town's first corner on nine  
minutes.

The bad news for Holder is that he will now serve a two-match ban  
under the totting up system for receiving a total of 10 bookings this  
season.

Hythe had the first chance with Lee Winfield playing a free-kick  
short to Dale Skelton who picked out Roy Godden with a ball into the  
box but the striker's shot was weak and straight at goalkeeper Jurgen  
Wild.

Skelton went into Knight's notebook for a foul on midfielder Steve  
Aslett on 17 minutes before Holder headed over the top from Town's  
third corner of the afternoon.

Then brave Wild came sprinting from his goal to deny Aiden Purslove  
in a 50/50 on the right of the 18-yard box after a cracking ball into  
space by Skelton.

Utility man John Goodwin was named in midfield to add bite  
alongside playmaker Aslett but he incurred Knight's wrath with a  
lunge on Winfield that earned a yellow card on the half hour.

GREAT WIN, GOODWIN...John Goodwin wins a header despite providing the filling for a Hythe Town sandwich   

The busy Skelton sent a right-foot shot wide of Town's right post  
before the home side produced their best piece of football all  
afternoon.

The impressive Aslett picked up the ball on the halfway line and  
made off towards the left wing after sending a square ball out to  
Jason Mills.

Wing back Mills returned the pass and Aslett - the man they have  
nicknamed Casual - showed unusual urgency to break down the flank  
before sending in a delicious ball with the outside of his right boot.

CROSS PURPOSE...Steve Aslett delivers a ball into the area with the  
outside of the right boot....

Anthony Pace made good ground with a burst through the middle but  
was unable to get in a shot with Barton racing quickly from his goal.

The fact that most of Town's brighter moments did not end with a  
shot on target is indicative of the problems facing Cordice as he  
looks to put together a run that will rescue his faltering season.

By contrast, Faversham look rock solid at the back with Holder in  
commanding form although it was fellow centre-half Wes Hammond who  
came to the rescue five minutes from half-time with a fantastic  
tackle to halt Godden on the six-yard line.

The half ended with more frustration in attack with the ever-
willing Andy Martin seeing his powerful shot blocked after good work  
from Goodwin and Mills.

Still Town had not had an effort on target and they were almost  
made to pay seven minutes into the second half when Buster Smissen's  
shot came off sweeper Gary Stock before looping over Wild and off a  
post to safety.

Hammond went into the book for a foul two minutes later before  
midfielder Mark Smith failed to get a shot off following great  
approach play down the right from Pace.

Martin's weak header from Goodwin's cross from the right flank did  
not trouble Barton although the Hythe keeper did have to get down  
smartly to deny Mills at the far post on 75 minutes.

The visitors then went close when substitute Dan Fisk let fly with  
a shot that Wild could only parry. Smissen collected the loose ball  
before laying the ball back to Winfield whose cross was just too high  
for a mass of players at the far post.

It is fantastic to see Cordice employing 16-year-old Adam Oxberry  
as a late substitute because he always looks likely to make things  
happen.

And he very nearly capped his 13-minute cameo with a goal after  
scampering off down the right wing eight minutes from time.

A fantastic little trick dumped one defender on his backside and he  
was off past another before hitting a terrific shot that Barton did  
well to save.

Town - whose yellow card tally rose to four when Gary Stock was  
cautioned for what looked like dissent near the close - finished the  
stronger of the two sides but no one was complaining about the final  
result.

TOWN'S TOP MAN: James Holder - back to his best

Marks (out of 10): Jurgen Wild 7, Wayne Farrell 6, Jason Mills 6, Wes  
Hammond 7, James Holder 8, Gary Stock 6, Mark Smith 6, Steve Aslett  
8, Andy Martin 7, Anthony Pace 6, John Goodwin 6. Substitutes: Tyrone  
Smith (for Pace, 65 minutes) 6, Adam Oxberry (for Martin, 77) 7,  
Michael Seagers (for Mills, 84) 6.

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