Friday, October 17, 2008 18:40
Faversham Town Reserves 2 Dartford Reserves 2 (Floodlight Cup- West)
By Joseph Downes
Ten man Dartford held on to claim a point in an entertaining cup fixture at Salters Lane. On a night where conditions were perfect for playing good football, neither side disappointed their vocal supporters.
Dartford came into the game as leaders of the competition’s West division, but it was Town who started the better. Dane Luchford called opposition ‘keeper Anthony Kessell into action twice in the opening 12 minutes, but both times the Darts’ stopper responded with fine saves.
Dartford’s defence showed further signs of wilting under the pressure on 19 minutes when centre-half Jackson Ohakam gifted possession to Town striker Aiken Thomas, only for Ohakam to atone for his error with a wonderful sliding challenge.
Therefore it came as somewhat of a surprise when, on 23 minutes, the lively Ebenezer Masade broke free down the Dartford right, pulled the ball back for his captain Seun Eferakorho, who drove the ball home from 12 yards out to put the visitors in front.
However, Town responded well to going a goal behind, Luchford stooping to send a header wide just before the half hour. The game’s most significant turning point came five minutes later with the dismissal of Dartford midfielder Reece Walker for dissent. Referee, Mr Francis, had spoken to Walker twice before, but it came as a shock to everyone inside the ground when he brandished a straight red card.
Sensing an opportunity to make the most of their numerical advantage just before the break, a series of corners followed for Faversham, but the ball just wouldn’t fall kindly for the home side in the penalty area, and with that the referee blew for half-time.
Faversham started the second period as they had done the first. Mike McKenna placing a free header straight into Kessell’s arms from six yards out, following more good play from Luchford down the left. An injury to midfield lynchpin Alex O’Brien forced Dartford boss Paul Hennessy into a change with the introduction of Andrew Bishop on 55 minutes.
O’Brien had been off for less than three minutes when a crisp, incisive Faversham move breached the Dartford defence. McKenna cleverly slipping in winger Shaun Hetterly who applied the finish to equalise. Just four minutes later in an effort to hammer home the advantage, Town manager John Goodwin brought on fresh legs up front, Thomas replaced by Stefan Wall.
However, less than a minute later Dartford were back in front with a free-flowing move of their own. The impressive Masade spun away from two Town defenders, before providing a cross for substitute Reiss St Hilaire, whose neat back heel found Ashley Dunkley who tapped home from close range.
Following a flat ten minutes, Goodwin opted to show his hand with a final, double substitution, Hugo Gaskin and David Miles coming on for McKenna and Hetterly. Just five minutes later it paid dividends. Dartford failed to clear a long ball, and it fell to substitute Wall who struck a shot with his right foot from the edge of the box.
The effort took a deflection and Faversham finally got that bit of luck inside the area they had been craving, as it fell kindly for fellow substitute Miles who applied the finish. Both sides went in search of a winner but neither could find one in the final ten minutes.
Town Manager John Goodwin was content with a point after the game. “It was a cracking game of football, both teams got it down and tried to play, there was a great tempo and energy to the game… I thought we might nick it at the end, we were by far the better side at the end, as we should be with the extra man… but it was a great game of football and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially after Saturday!”
Faversham Town Reserves: Carl Hodgson, Chris Eather, Dan Harris, Nick Smith, Leon Brabon, Ray Turner, Sean Hetterly, Craig Preston, Mike McKenna, Aiken Thomas, Dane Luchford. Substitutes: Stefan Wall, Hugo Gaskin, David Miles