Monday, October 13, 2008 21:21
Faversham Town Reserves 1 Holmesdale Reserves 4
By Roger Bennett
Salters Lane was graced by the attendance of retiring carnival queen Amanda Wren, who was continuing the 50 year tradition of ‘kicking off’ on carnival day. By the final whistle, manager John Goodwin must have been wishing Wren had stayed on the pitch, for there were plenty of Town players whose performance she could have matched. And this was despite her inappropriate footwear!
Both sides went into this match knowing a win would give them top spot in Bulmers Cider Kent league division 2. But whilst Town dithered and sent passes astray, it was the visitors who took the initiative with an impressive performance that outplayed their opponents in just about every department. Not even a Russian type linesman decision or the inclusion of eight first team squad players could save the Lilywhites when lethargy seemed to overcome them at times on a warm October afternoon.
Town got off to a flying start after 2 minutes when Damian Abel’s fierce shot from the penalty D struck the inside of the angle of woodwork. The rapidly spinning ball ricocheted along the roof of the net, where it seemed to gain adhesion and flew out of the goal and curved round a post to go out of play. In the seconds that followed, no one seemed quite sure what had happened, though at least one Town player was thought to be heard appealing for a corner. Assistant referee John Heasman was well placed however and in true Russian style, signalled a goal to referee Neil Conlan.
But it was downhill after that for Town as Holmesdale stamped their authority on the game. Goals from Peter Afslayan (16 minutes), Chris Hatt (36), Jack Highwood (66) and Ayub Swaibu (85) wrapped things up for the Dalers. At the other end, visiting keeper Ross Mitchell had no further significant shots to save. Town’s best chance fell to Abel, but somehow he fired over from close range when it seemed easier to score.
It rather felt that the inclusion of so many first team squad had been counter-productive, and upset the balance of the side. A disappointed Goodwin admitted afterwards it had been a flat performance. Critics around the ground (and there were plenty of them,) will be relieved to know that the first team are fixtureless on Saturdays on only rare occasions.
Faversham Town Reserves: Rob Hudson 6, Aaron Burrett 6, Dean Yorath 5, Shane Hamshare 7, Lee Shearer 6, Steven Lloyd 5, Damian Abel 7, Liam Gould 7, Roy Guiver 5, Chris Oebanjo 5, Kris Richardson 5.
Substitutes: Craig Preston (for Yorath, 47 minutes) 7, Leon Brabon (for Shearer, 57) 6, Sean Hetterly (for Oebanjo, 64) 6. Not used: Jamie Sparks, Carl Hodgson.
Holmesdale reserves: Ross Mitchell, Casey Jones, David May, Jon White, Oliver miles, Kevin Malloy, Steve Diamond, Ricky Spain, Peter Afslayan, Jack Highwood, Chris Hatt, Matt Steer.
Substitutes: Chris Steadman (for Miles, 5), Ayub Swaibu (for Highwood, 73).