Sunday, March 1, 2009 18:11
Faversham Town Under 18's 2 Margate Under 18's 0
Scorers: Chris Axford; Aaron West
Margate Under 18's 0 Faversham Town Under 18's 4
Scorers: Aaron West (2);Chris Axford;Stefan Wall
Faversham Town Under 18's climbed to the top of the League after this exhausting double-header at Salters Lane. It was an immense effort by all concerned to climb above previous Leaders Margate to claim top spot, winning two seperate games back to back. It was a huge squad effort and well deserved on the day.
The first game started with Jamie Sparks, Kris Richardson ,Carl Hodgson and Danny Smith all coming back in to the starting line-up. On a day playing two back to back games the whole squad would be tested and streched.
The first game was played at a great pace with both teams playing excellent football at times. The opening stages of the game were very physical and competitive as you might expect, and both sides looked very solid.
There was one difference early on and that was Faversham's power up front with West and Pennell, Pennell in particular constantly kept Margate's back-line under constant pressure, and it was through that that enabled Faversham to get some territorial advantage. However clear cut chances were very rare throughout this first game, crucially in a game of only 30 minutes each way it was Faversham that made the breakthrough after about 15 minutes, Pennell Towns' best player in the opening minutes did brilliantly to flick a ball on into Axford's perfectly timed run into the box, with no time to bring the ball down Axford smashed the volley into the roof of the net to give Town the lead.
This was crucial in a shortened game as Margate tried to press for an equaliser but ran into a surperb back four of Ellett, Doyle, Sparks and Richardson. With Hodgson behind them this was the base of both victories. It wasn't all good news for Town early on as once again Danny Smith suffered an injury, to be replaced by Wall, it was so unlucky for Smith who had worked his way back after a string of set-backs. This did bring a different dimension to Town with Wall's pace looking very threatening as the half drew to a close with Town leading 1-0.
The second half began with another set-back for Town as Johanson in midfield was suffering with a groin problem, after a short time he was replaced by Elliot Ling and Liam Gould came in to his more favoured role in the centre. The game was brilliantly poised Margate continued to probe and play good football without really testing Hodgson, the closest they came was a header that went just wide from a well delivered free-kick.
Town looked very potent up-front winning a lot of flick-ons and Wall's pace was a constant distraction for Margate. It was crucial Town maintaned their concentration and they did so, and with West up front there was always a cutting edge and that was to prove the difference between the sides as with less than 10 minutes remaining West struck his 12th of the Season, with his back to goal some 40 yards out he out muscled his marker and hit a low shot past the on rushing keeper. It was a decisive blow, Pennell came off late for a well deserved break, replaced by Lanczi-Wilson. The game was won 2-0, now the difficult bit beating the same team straight away!
The second game started with a change, in came Tom Bish in the centre of midfield, other than that the team stayed the same. It was a big ask for the side to lift themselves again, indeed it was Margate that were marginally better in the early exchanges as Town settled again, there was no way past Town's back four Today and once again Town's forward players started to dominate. It wasn't long before Town took the all important lead, this time it came from the right hand side, Ling who had replaced injured Gould early in the game was the provider, he skipped past his marker, crucially his final ball was perfect for West to sweep home at the back post.
With Town going ahead again it was a blow to Margate and a huge lift for Town who then looked unstoppable for a period up till half time adding another three goals. First another good move down the right very similar to the first goal, this time it was Wall at the far post to score. Then Ling was brought down on the edge of the box, up stepped West and smashed the ball which took a deflection off the wall to put Town three up. It was to get better for Town, as from a well delivered free kick from the accomplished Richardson fell at the feet of Axford who made no mistake from close range.
With Town four up and most of the players already played 90 minutes there was no way back for Margate. Both front men for Town were replaced at this stage on came Wilson and Lanczi-Wilson, both forwards for Town were fantastic on the day. The game really had no where to go at this stage, Margate to their credit continued to play good football and never gave in, Town players were tired but elated at the end of the second game, it was a crucial 6 points that took Town to the top of the League for the first time this Season. The whole squad deserve huge credit for Today's effort.
A plea to all Faversham Town supporters......please come up and support the boys in their quest to stay top....Town host Borden on Tuesday night, 1945 hrs kick-off.
Town squad:
Carl Hodgson
Joe Dart
Dan Ellett
Jamie Sparks
Brad Doyle
Kris Richardson
Ryan Pioli
Matt Wilson
Danny Smith
Taylor Johanson
Chris Axford
Liam Gould
Elliot Ling
Tom Bish
Richard Pennell
Aaron West
Stefan Wall
Rafael Lanczi-Wilson.