Make sure we leave everything out on the pitch at Worthing, says Faversham Town defender John Scarborough

CHARLEY ROBERTSON says it’s an amazing feeling to score the winning goal that puts underdogs Faversham Town in the Ryman League Division One South Play-Off Final.

The Lilywhites gate-crashed the play-off party by snatching fifth-place after Corinthian-Casuals were deducted three points last Friday afternoon, which gave fifth-placed Hastings United a chance to claim a play-off place going into the last round of games.

But Hastings United suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Herne Bay, while Faversham Town took full advantage and grabbed the final play-off place by beating Hythe Town 4-0 at Salters Lane on Saturday.

Folkestone Invicta claimed the league title over Easter and finished their 46-game campaign on 114 points.

Seventeen-year-old outfit Dorking Wanderers finished their debut Ryman League campaign as runners-up on 90 points.

Worthing finished third on 88 points, Hythe Town fourth on 87 points, with Faversham Town qualifying with 83 points.

When Luke Hackett hooked home his fourth-goal of the season to give Dorking Wanderers an early lead, it appeared that Marc White’s side were heading to the Ryman Premier League with Neil Cugley’s Folkestone Invicta.

However, the Lilywhites started to dominate and deservedly equalised through John Scarborough, 36, who waited until this moment to head home only his second goal of the season after 57 minutes.

Dorking Wanderers kissed the top of the crossbar through 37-goal hitman Tom Tolfrey, before Faversham Town dominated for the rest of the game.

Despite finishing 17 points behind Dorking Wanderers in the table, Faversham Town deserved to win the game on the night, when winger Robertson 20, drilled in a dramatic winner, timed at 43 minutes and 11 seconds.

“It’s great, considering how we shouldn’t even really got in there. We luckily got in the play-offs,” admitted Robertson.

“It’s just amazing to score the winner is amazing, I’m lost for words really.”

Reflecting on the game itself, Robertson said: “The first 10-15 minutes is always a bit nervy for both teams and then the last 20 of the first half we really got going.

“Second half I think we out played them. I don’t think they really had a chance.

“I’m just so proud for everyone. I think we fully deserved it, yes.”

Faversham Town appeared dead and buried after losing their penultimate league game of the season at relegation threatened East Grinstead Town 2-1.

“Last week, I was like the season’s pretty much over and I think we were unlucky. I think it was East Grinstead, the second last game where we just couldn’t score and we had chances.

“We got a bit of luck with Corinthian-Casuals dropping the points and we just took it.

“Since Saturday, the game against Hythe, we played really well and today we just went out there. We won in the last minute, we should’ve won it comfortably, considering the chances we had.”

Robertson scored the winner after meeting Scarborough’s flick on from George Monger’s cross from the right.

“I remember it kind of coming out and the cross coming in. I was just trying to get in the box. I don’t know, just trying to get a second ball and lucky it just fell to me.”

Worthing are favourites going into Saturday’s Play-Off Final on their artificial pitch at Woodside Road.

The Rebels humiliated Hythe Town 7-0 in the other Semi-Final.

But remember Hayden Bird’s Merstham stunned runners-up Folkestone Invicta 3-0 at Cheriton Road in last season’s winner-takes-all final - and the pressure is all on Worthing.

“I mean as we’ve got though it we’ve kind of been the underdog,” said Robertson.

“Last year we were third and we had a bit more pressure on us and this year Ray Turner’s said let’s go and enjoy it. We’ve just snuck in to the play-offs, I think it’s better like that. We’ve just got nothing to lose now.

“The last two games we’ve played so well. We’ve just got to go to Worthing and do what we’ve been doing in the last two games.

“No game is easy in this league. Even if you play Folkestone or you play a team down at the bottom, every game is tough in our own little way, so we just have to go to Worthing and work hard and try to get a result.”

Central defender John Scarborough, meanwhile, said he was feeling relieved that Faversham Town got through to the Final through a shock result in Surrey.

He said: “Relieved! I think there was a lot of pressure on us.  I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves really.  I think we know we’re a good side, for me they’re a Ryman Premier side. There’s a lot of young players out there who will get better.

“I really want to get into the Ryman Prem and I know Ray does.

“Today, we stood up and came back from 1-0 down. Not many teams would have the attitude like that and I think we’ve put in a performance second half, we more than deserved that.”

Scarborough scored Faversham’s opening goal and said: “I was just laughing with the boys about that. I don’t score enough!

“Dorking Wanderers are a good side, they try to play, they try to play from the back and that’s credit to them on a pitch that probably doesn’t make it easy for them to do that.

“They’ve got some very good front players, some good movement and they were unlucky today and they kept on trying to play.

“It was difficult playing in the first half and they felt the same. Once we knew we got the (first) goal, I always knew there was only going to be one winner.”

The central defender is relishing the chance of guiding Faversham Town into the Ryman Premier League for the first time.

Faversham Town won the Kent League title under Justin Luchford (now coach at Ryman Premier League side Tonbridge Angels) in 2010 and have finished in eighth, seventeenth, third, tenth, third and fifth in the Ryman League Division One South since then.

“If you come off the pitch and you know you’ve played well, I think as long as you’ve done that, it’s still ok.  It’s when you don’t give your all,” said Scarborough, who praised his team’s desire against a Dorking Wanderers side that were defeated six times at home in the league.

“I think today and even last season we gave our all. I think we have to go again Saturday, just make sure we leave out everything on the pitch. That’s what I said to the boys before we went out and we’ve done that.”

Looking ahead to the crunch game at Worthing on Saturday, Scarborough said: “I’ve just been told that (they beat Hythe Town 7-0), that’s surprising but that’s it. It’s a one-off game and people can go for it. It’s either win or bust.

“Worthing are a good side, Hythe are a good side. Everyone can beat everyone on their day. We’ll go down there and we’ll give them a game.

“The hard way? That’s the most enjoyable way, isn’t it?”

Reflecting on Robertson’s late winner, Scarborough laughed: “I’ve got another five minutes to hold out but no, great feeling. You can’t get a better feeling.”

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk

Worthing  v  Faversham Town
Ryman League Division One South Play-Off Final
Saturday 30^th April 2016
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Woodside Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 7BH