Monday, December 22, 2008 14:04
Faversham Town 2 Orpington 3
By Tony Gray
Christmas came early for Kent CountyLeague side Orpington as they defeated the Lilywhites in an entertaining Kent Senior Trophy tie at Salters Lane, their reward a place in the last eight of the competition.
With Jamie Sparks and Kris Richardson missing due to injury and illness respectively newly signed Ellis Munday made his debut at right back with Dean Yorath coming back into the side at left back and with strikers Mike McKenna and Sean Hetterley still sidelined Chris Oyebanjo retained his place in the starting eleven.
Town started the brighter of the two sides dominating play for the opening twenty minutes, Steve O'Brien saw a close range header deflected out of play courtesy of an Orpington shoulder whilst Shane Hamshare and Roy Guiver both saw scoring opportunities come and go.
Town's best chance fell to the lively Oyebanjo who found himself one on one with Orpington keeper Nick Blue who did well to deny the Town striker.
Against the run of play the visitors took the lead on 24 minutes when a Town corner kick was cleared to Charlie Hawkes who threaded the ball through to Gary Gorman on the right side of play, Gorman's run saw him cut in to the edge of the penalty area before firing the ball low past Kevin Readings.
The Lilywhites almost responded in style with Hamshare's long range effort narrowly missing the target.
Unbeaten in the last six matches Orpington were now growing in confidence and, on 28 minutes, doubled their lead - breaking with speed the ball falling to Billy Webb on the edge of the Town area Webb being allowed enough time to control the ball, turn and chip over Readings. As Webb received the ball the Assistant Referee Nick Goodhew flagged for offside although after a brief consultation with Referee Robert Ayling the goal was allowed to stand.
The home side appeared stunned by the second goal and seemed content to limp through for the half-time whistle in an effort to regroup for the second period.
Lee Shearer replaced Oyebanjo at the interval in an effort to steady the ship although Town were still on the back foot for the opening twenty-five minutes of the half, Munday made way on 62 minutes for another debutante as Jacob Arnold-Smith got his first introduction to the Salters Lane crowd.
Damian Abel reduced the defecit on 72 minutes smashing the ball past Blue from the left side of the penalty area for his 13th goal of the season although any hopes of a comeback were cruelly dashed within five minutes of Abel's strike, another quick break from the visitors saw the ball fed through to Byron Beard at the far post. Beard's first time volley was well saved by the acrobatic Readings who could only parry the ball back to be met by Beard's header which was on target for the O's third of the afternoon.
Despite the setback Town continued to battle with Nick Blue kept under pressure for the closing 10 minutes, Guiver went close on two occaisons with a header clipping the crossbar. Arnold-Smith added a second for Town on 85 minutes heading home from close range but it was a case of too little too late with Orpington progressing to the quarter final stage of the competition.
The Lilywhites are next in action this coming Saturday (27th December) when they make the short journey down the Thanet Way to face an in-form Herne Bay side at Winch's Field, kick off at 15:00.
Town's Star Man - Damian Abel, yet another hard woring performance from Town's leading goalscorer.
Faversham Town: Kevin Readings (7); Ellis Minday (6); Dean Yorath (6); Dane Luchford (6); Ashley Brown (7); Roy Guiver (7); Shane Hamshare (7); Damian Abel (8); Steve O'Brien (7); Dave Soutan (6); Chris Oyebanjo (6)
Substitutes: Lee Shearer (for Oyebanjo 45 minutes) (6); Jacob Arnold-Smith (for Munday 62 minutes) (7).
Unused: Carl Hodgson; Wes Hammond; Ben Ives