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All photographs courtesy of www.jasondoddphotography.com
13th August 2005 Faversham Town 2 Milton 3 HUGHIE STINSON would lift the gloom of an opening-day defeat by pointing out that Faversham Town were only three points behind the leaders. It was a line typical of the club's long-suffering former manager, but it would have taken a brave man to offer a similar quip at Salters Lane on Saturday. For Faversham Town boss Terry Cordice and his assistant manager Peter Holder were not happy bunnies. And that is hardly surprising after seeing their rabbits in Lilywhite shirts caught in the headlights of a harrowing British Energy Kent County League debut. Town's big return to competitive football after two and a half years in the wilderness demanded a fairytale result. Instead, they had a nightmare. No wonder Cordice and Holder kept the players out on the pitch for a full 20 minutes after the final whistle had blown. Exactly what was said is unclear but it is a fair bet it could not be printed in a family newspaper in any case.
The club's incredible journey from scrapheap to salvation in 14 amazing months came courtesy of an awe-inspiring team effort full of pride, passion and honest to goodness hard work. Yet those qualities were conspicuous by their absence as the men with three lions on their shirts failed to roar in front of a stunning home crowd of 328. Two goals from Ricky Freeman - including an exquisite lobbed third on 54 minutes - and a Darren Samways effort had Milton home and hosed before a late Town rally saw Mark Smith and James Holder add a veneer of respectability to a scoreline their performance did not deserve.
Town's much-hyped revival has seen Salters Lane transformed into a stadium worthy of Southern League football with brand new floodlights and a superb new clubhouse. Everything is first class, as the many visiting VIPs from the county league, KCFA and FA will tell you. But if Town's players think they are going to get the red carpet treatment in this league they are very much mistaken. Milton boss Matt Barman described the match as a "cup final" for his side. Well, if that really was the case, the name of Milton Athletic would have been on the trophy by half-time. They were quite possibly the worst opponents Town could have faced for their big opening. A meaty blend of experienced players and local lads looking to make a name for themselves, they relished their role as party poopers, setting a high pace from the opening whistle. And they did not take their foot off the gas until Town's hopes of a positive result were all but written off.
Their 'in your face' style of football was personified by skipper Kealan O'Connor who snarled and jeered his way to a well-deserved victory. He will never win a popularity contest, but his passion and spirit in the heat of battle are qualities that Town would do well to emulate. And at least Robbie Savage now has a kindred spirit in football albeit playing a few rungs down the ladder. Town manager Cordice said the performance was a massive wake-up call for his new squad. He revealed: "There were only two players who played anywhere near their potential today and they are Julian Beal and Gary Stock. Dave Hockley did ok and Sam Croucher is still carrying a bit of a knock so he has an excuse but overall it was very, very poor. "No, I didn't under-estimate Milton. I warned the lads that they would come and fight and they did just that. "We simply did not match them. I don't know whether it was stage fright or they were nervous. "They allowed themselves to be outmuscled. Milton wanted it more. They came here to ram a result down our throats and they did just that. "They said it was like a cup final for them and that'll be the case for a lot of teams who come here this season. "But I still believe that these lads are good enough. It has been a big shock for them and they had better be prepared for more battles because the likes of Snodland, Norton and Sheerness East are really going to be in our faces - just like Milton were here today.
"We need to match these teams, to be able to play football and to mix it when the occasion arises. They have to stand up and be counted." Town head into Saturday's big game against defending champions Cray Valley with the words of their manager ringing in their ears. Sadly, no magic wand is available but they live to fight another day and fight they must if Town are to make an impact in their first season. They lie just above the relegation zone after their first county league sortie. But Town would do well to remember that when all is said and done, that really is only three points behind the leaders. TOWN'S TOP MAN Julian Beal. Battled hard while keeping his cool. TOWN: Holmes (out of 10) 6, Collis 6, Holder 5, D Mills 6, Browning 5, M Smith 6, Hockley 6, BEAL 7, S Smith 5, Goodwin 5, Croucher 6. Subs: Stock (for S Smith, 55) 6, Scott (for Croucher, 55) 6. Whitehead (for Goodwin, 68).
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