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11th March 2007

By JAMES BROWN

Whitstable Town 1 Faversham Town 1

SAM PRETT broke Faversham Town hearts with a goal four minutes into time added on as Whitstable maintained their unbeaten record against the odds at The Belmont on Saturday.

Striker Prett fired home against the run of play to spark jubilant scenes among the Oyster fans in this nerve-jangling Kent League Premier Division derby.  

FIGHTING SPIRIT.....Mark Smith battles for the ball as Jason Mills looks on.

But referee Alan Marshall then capped a controversial performance by sending off Prett after the player allegedly leaned over the hoardings to celebrate with relieved home supporters.

Paul Copley's born-again Lilywhites started slowly and did not have a shot worthy of the name in a first half that saw Town goalkeeper Tony Diment produce a fantastic save to deny Prett from 25 yards.

Yet Town - who look so much improved after the switch to 4-4-2 - defended well with Wes Hammond and James Holder in commanding form. 

And they were by far the better side after the break and can count themselves very unlucky not to have taken all three points from Marc Seager's champions elect.  

TOP GEAR.....Town's man of the match Wes Hammond in full flight

Admittedly, Michael Lane did hit the post just three minutes after the re-start and then Stuart King let fly with a terrific effort that smashed against the cross bar.

Yet Faversham rose to the challenge and played some of their best football of the season with Jason Mills producing a goal of the highest quality in the 56th-minute.

Anthony Pace's clever back heel put Ray Turner clear down the right and he found Dave Read with a pass inside.

Whitstable lad Read shaped to shoot only to deliver a great ball to Mills just outside the area on the left.

And the big man showed great composure to chest the ball down, before jinking around defender Jake Gess and finishing with great calm past Kevin Fewell.

Mills went close again just a couple of minutes later after more wizardry down the left and then substitute Adam Oxberry let fly with an incredible right-foot thunderbolt that smacked against the bar with Fewell beaten again.

Town continued to press as the second ticked towards full time with the impressive Steve Aslett, Turner and Read providing a lesson in how to retain possession.

Whitstable looked out for the count and boss Seager and his assistant Simon Halsey then cranked up the atmosphere further still when Marshall ordered them from the technical area following alleged comments to a linesman.

The whole business took about a minute to sort out but Marshall somehow found NINE to add on at the end of full time and the rest is history with never-say-die Whitstable forcing a late, late share of the spoils through Prett.

Caretaker boss Copley and his new-look team were stunned but they should take comfort from frightening the life out of a side that will be playing in the Ryman next season.

Faversham Town are back, mixing it with the best.

Town's Top Man: Wes Hammond - best performance in a white shirt

Marks (out of 10): Tony Diment 7, Gary Stock 7, Mark Smith 7, Wes Hammond 8, James Holder 8, Dave Read 8, Ray Turner 8, Steve Aslett 8, Anthony Pace 7, Andy Martin 7, Jason Mills 8. Substitutes: Adam Oxberry (for Pace, 74 minutes) 7, Nicky Scott (for Martin, 90) 7.  

Full report and quotes to follow Monday

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