GOALS from Kris Parker and Ross Cable
reignited Faversham Town's
challenge for the Kent County League title at Salters Lane on
Saturday.
And with leaders Lewisham Borough
losing 2-1 at home to Norton Sports,
the balance of power at the top of the Premier Division has changed
once again.
Just seven days after Town's worst
performance of the season - the
dismal 1-0 defeat to Stansfeld - the Lilywhites now know that
victory
in each of their four remaining games will almost certainly
guarantee
the championship and promotion to the Kent League.
Parker opened the scoring on 36
minutes, latching on to a great through
ball from skipper Dave Hockley and lobbing goalkeeper Dan Noden with
a
right-foot shot. The effort struck the post but Parker followed up
well
to tuck the rebound into the corner with Noden stranded.
Cable supplied the second with an
exquisite finish that oozed class
three minutes after the restart. Cable had not scored in his first
two
games since returning to the club from Thamesmead. But he delighted
a
crowd of 184 with his 11th goal in all competitions with a deft
flick
of the right boot after Kam Singh nodded on Parker's through ball.
Town could and should have won by
more on a day when they created 11
decent chances.
Hockley twice went close in the first half and Scott Price was
inches
away from a goal-of-the-season contender with a left-foot rocket
that
swerved all over the place before dipping over the bar.
After the break and James Holder was
just wide with a header then Cable
had a left-foot shot that flashed across the face of goal.
Town were in complete control but
almost threw away all their hard work
as referee Rowland Bass played SIX MINUTES of time added on.
First, goalkeeper Tim Holmes made a
fabulous save to keep out a David
Cook effort right in front of goal.
But the Bromley Green midfielder was
not done yet and he set up a
nerve-jangling finale with a blistering right-foot shot that flew
straight into the top right-hand corner.
Then, with just seconds left to play,
Cook went forward again and with
Gary Stock failing to clear, he somehow found space for a shot and
the
ball trickled just inches past the post.
Town had survived and there was more
good news some 50 miles away where
Darren Slatter was celebrating his 90th-minute winner for Norton
Sports
against Lewisham.
Town now trail Borough by two points
with four games to play and Town
boss Terry Cordice said: "That was 100 percent better this week
and I
am proud of the boys. I thought they were well worth the points. In
fact, I think we should have been three or four up before we even
scored.
"We didn't allow them to play
and second half we were totally dominant.
It was just the last ten minutes when we let ourselves down. There
were
a few tired legs out there as well as a few injuries.
"I thought Kris Parker did ever
so well up front for us and he only
came off because he picked up a knee injury.
"I think our front three worked
well. Kris, Kam Singh and Ross Cable.
But more than anything we showed character out there today and
that's
really pleasing.
"There are four big games to go
and this is not over yet. I can tell
you now that there will be more than a few twists and turns before
the
title is decided."
Rusthall completed an excellent day
for Faversham Town by drawing 1-1
with in-form Stansfeld - a team that Cordice cannot wait to play at
Salters Lane a week on Saturday.
He said: "We have a week off
next week and then it is Stansfeld at our
place and we really owe them one. We were terrible up there and we
need
to make up for that by taking three points off them."
Lewisham's advantage at the summit
will be wiped out if Town can win
their last four games including the Londoners' long-awaited visit to
Salters Lane on 29th April.
The only fly in the ointment from
Town's point of view is the rise of
Sheerness East who will sweep all before them in the unlikely event
they win 11 of their 12 remaining games .
The Islanders, who have eight games
in hand over the top two, could
finish on 65 POINTS while the maximum tally Town can achieve is 59.
So, in theory, Town could even beat
Sheerness East and still miss out
on the championship.
But Cordice insisted there was no way
he would swap roles with East
boss Dave Downes - one of his former team-mates at Sheppey United.
Cordice said: "I understand the
maths involved but I'd not want to be
in their position. They have fallen well behind and must put one
helluva run together. It'll be interesting to see how they get on.
"No, I'm happy as we are. We've
always said that we will be there or
thereabouts come the end of the season and that's now the case. I'd
certainly take my chances with another 12 points."
Cordice was blown away by another
bumper Salters Lane crowd.
He said: "They were absolute
quality. It really helps the lads, it
inspires them and that is why I was so disappointed that we didn't
perform in our last game at home against Crockenhill.
"I'd just like to thank them for
their support and we look forward to
seeing them all again at the Stansfeld game - they are absolutely
fantastic."
Town's top man: Gary Stock - Just
edged out Parker with a super
performance at sweeper.
Town: Holmes 6, Mark Smith 6, Scott
Price 6, John Goodwin 7, James
Holder 7, Gary Stock 7, Dave Hockley 6, Adam Hewitson 6, Ross Cable
7,
Kam Singh 6, Kris Parker 7.
Substitutes: Tyrone Smith (for Parker, 70 minutes) 6, Bradley
Maguire
(for Singh, 75) 6, Jason Mills (for Hewitson, 82) 6.
