To see the match in pictures click here
Two goals in six minutes from debutante Richard Sinden saw the Lilywhites claw back a two goal deficit to earn a deserved replay in this F.A.Cup preliminary round fixture.
With Justin Luchford's side unbeaten in the league this season a trip to fifth placed Ryman South outfit Merstham was always going to be a stiffer test for the Lilywhites.
The opening 45 minutes saw the visitors with their backs to the wall for most of the half as Merstham dominated play and looking every inch the superior team although they failed to convert their considerable periods of possession into any real threats with Town keeper Rob French rarely threatened, the best chance of the first period fell to Merstham's Mu Mann with a well placed header on 37 minutes.
After the break the home side continued to dominate against an unusually lacklustre Faversham side, and the warning signs were there to see when Jermaine McGlashon's shot only narrowly missed the target on 49 minutes.
When Merstham's Michael Gordon's low struck shot found the back of French's net on 55 minutes few in the 114 crowd could have been surprised.
Six minutes later and Town were given a mountain to climb when McGlashon squared the ball into the penalty area for Billy Marshall to fire the ball home to double the score line
Manager Justin Luchford rang the changes with the home crowd still celebrating the second goal, Damian Abel and Dave Soutan both making way to be replaced by Aaron Quain and Richard Sinden - making his debut in a Lilywhite shirt.
The combination of fresh legs and the loss of the second goal was the wake up call the visitors needed the roles being reversed as Faversham appeared to step up several gears to force the home side back in their own half.
Luchford's last substitution saw Jack Tanner come on to replace Dane Luchford after 66 minutes by which time Faversham were, at long last, looking a real threat going forward.
Both Quain and Tanner were particularly effective finding space down the wings whilst Sinden and 'Buster' Smissen were causing the Merstham defenders problems in the area.
The pressure paid off for the visitors when Sinden fired home from close range on 76 minutes to open his tally for the Town
Sinden bagged his second on 79 minutes, a throw in from Shane Hamshare was only half cleared before being floated to towards the far post for Sinden to acrobatically send the ball into the top left corner of Ian Chatfield's goal.
Seconds later and Sinden almost made it three - a well struck shot on target forced Chatfield into a fine save albeit that Smissen, unmarked to his left possibly had the greater chance of scoring.
With the visitors threatening to score with each attack their momentum was interrupted following an injury to Merstham scorer Billy Marshall who clashed heads with Dan Larkin as both went up to challenge for the ball the result of which saw a 35 minute delay which saw Marshall driven away in an ambulance nursing a fractured cheekbone.
When the game finally restarted , Merstham with only 10 men, Town had lost the impetus so painfully apparent before the interruption.
Smissen had one glorious chance to seal the victory as he found himself one on one with the keeper, Smissen opted to round the keeper rather than attempt the shot and a combination of tired legs and brave goalkeeping saw Smissen's effort hit the side netting from an acute angle.
Town weren't in this contest for the first hour but Skipper Tom Hickman certainly rallied the troops for the final third as his side fought back for a well deserved second crack at their opponents from the Ryman.
Both sides go head to head again in the replay this coming Tuesday evening (1st September) at Salters Lane with a 19:45 kick-off.
|