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NEWS >>>>>>
1st May 2006
Faversham
Town's junior reporter HARRISON "Hazza" GRANT completes
a double bill of reports from Saturday's title decider including
an exclusive stats table
Faversham Town 0 Lewisham Borough 2
Faversham Town saw their championship
title vanish as Lewisham smashed two past their Premier Division
rivals.
An eagerly-anticipated game went
horribly wrong for Faversham. Three points were needed to lead
them on their way to a British Energy Kent County Football League
crown, but Lewisham were the better team and, unlike Town,
supplied the goods in front of goal.
Matthew Belton, who had scored only
three goals prior to this fixture, rose high when a marvellous
corner from Marcus Dussard was swung in. The midfielder got
up well to beat a defender and sent his header past goalkeeper Tim
Holmes.
A stunned silence swept across
Salters Lane as the visitors cheered triumphantly in the middle of
the pitch.
Then to put salt on the wounds
for the Lilywhites, Lewisham scored a second midway through the
second half when Steve Strotten, the league's second highest goal
scorer with 22 goals in all competitions, popped up to deliver a
wonder strike. On the volley, he whacked the ball against the post
before bulging the net, giving Holmes no chance.
It could have been a different
story for Faversham though. With 15 attempts at goal, all they
failed to do was find the net. Rikki Cable attempted to find a way
but his early effort was parried by goalkeeper John Henry after
he swept past two players and let rip from 20 yards.
Ross Cable looked certain to bag
a goal for Town as he went one on one with Henry but he hit
straight at the big No1 who stood up well to deny him.
Johan T. Michael's ambitious
half volley from 40 yards was no problem for Holmes who caught his
effort on the line.
As the seconds ticked away,
Faversham were getting desperate. James Holder was sent up front
along with John Goodwin who started the game at centre back with
Ross Cable and Dave Hockley taking unusual roles in defence.
Adam Hewitson came on for Kris
Parker to add height to the team and then Mark Smith made way
for Kam Singh to add an even greater attacking presence on
the field.
Rikki Cable was set free down
the left and he delivered a spectacular ball, which flashed across
the face of goal but Holder missed it by millimetres.
The best chance for Faversham
Town fell to Captain Marvel Julian Beal, who hadn’t really
showed much of himself previous to a 67th-minute incident when
Rikki Cable's flick put John Goodwin through the borough’s back
line.
Goodwin appeared to be brought
down by John Henry. It looked like a certain foul, but nothing was
given. The ball then bobbled across to Beal in front of an open
goal. The crowd rose form their seats waiting for the net to bulge
but as Beal kicked the ball it stuck under his foot and bounced
away from goal, A sigh of relieve hit Lewisham - a sigh of
disappointment hit Faversham.
As the whistle went, Lewisham
erupted with cheers. Faversham looked heartbroken. All their hard
work was not to be rewarded with title recognition.
Dignified handshakes were
exchanged by the team and Lewisham were jubilant as they were
handed the league trophy amid cheers and celebrations.
All Faversham could do was watch on in sheer disappointment.
HAZZA'S STATS
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