Faversham face automatic fine of ?150

Lilywhite boss Cordice was thrilled to see his side build on their encouraging second-half performance in the 3-2 midweek defeat at Herne Bay by securing a 2-0 win over Sevenoaks Town last Saturday.

Winning at Salters Lane and pinching points away is central to Cordice's strategy this season and two goals inside the first 20 minutes from striker Andy Martin gave the re-born club a dream home debut.

Cordice said: "It wasn't the best of performances but three points is three points. We have our first win at home and winning at home  is exactly what we must do this season.

"If we can do that and nick a few points away then we will do well  this season, I am convinced of that."

Faverham Town stormed out of the blocks against Sevenoaks only to fade as the game progressed in stark contrast to their rousing display at  Winch's Field which saw them score twice after the break.

Indeed, Faversham Town goalkeeper Tony Diment was forced to make a number of key saves as Town failed to convert pressure into further goals in a disappointing second half.

Cordice said: "I'm very happy about the three points and very happy with the first-half performance but the second half was the complete opposite of the Herne Bay game.

"At Herne Bay we played ever so well after the break but this time we faded and had Tony Diment to thank because he pulled off four or five great saves.

"For all our possession, I don't really remember their goalkeeper having to make a save. Sevenoaks were the better side second half, there's no doubt about that.

"There's no place for people to hide now. Welcome to the Kent League. This is what it is all about - teams will always fight to the finish just like Sevenoaks did today.

"I think if we had got a third goal then we would have gone on to score more but we didn't do that.

"We set ourselves up but after a good start they were a little flat. They didn't play but we will work on that - we will get there."

Cordice's joy at a first Kent League win was tempered by a one-match ban for Faversham Town's new skipper James Holder who was sent off by referee Paul Beadle for the second of two bookable offences in the dying seconds.

But Cordice had sympathy for his big centre-half, insisting: "I thought the sending off was harsh. He made no contact for the first booking and their fella has fallen over, then the second caution was for encroachment when all he has done is jump up in the wall.

"If that's a booking then he should have booked all three of our players in that wall. I am not one to criticise referees - all I will say is that it was a bit harsh."

Faversham Town travel to South London on Saturday to take on Greenwich Borough before welcoming Lordswood to Salters Lane on Monday (kick-off 3pm) and Cordice said:  "I am expecting a real battle at Greenwich but if we can compete then I am sure we'll do well.

"Lordswood did well last year and Monday will be another interesting game. Hopefully, our brilliant fans can cheer us on to another home victory."

Faversham Town’s new skipper James Holder would be well advised to  watch out the next time Beadle's about.

The defender was sent off just seconds from time as the re-born Lilywhites recorded an historic first victory in the Kent League.

Referee Paul Beadle capped a fussy display by brandishing a second yellow card for encroachment at a free-kick on 91 minutes and Holder was on his way to the dressing room.

It was hard not to feel sorry for the young defender especially  when you learn that his first booking just before the break was for nothing other than  "adopting an aggressive attitude" in a challenge which saw him make no contact whatsoever.

But if Holder was three-card sick he was not the only one at  Salters Lane on Saturday - treasurer Peter Clarke included.

For Faversham Town now face an automatic fine of £150 for six or more cautions - a  penalty which DOUBLES with every repeat offence.

That seven yellow cards were shown by Mister Beadle to Faversham players was more than a little surprising because this was by no means a  dirty affair - far from it.

Sevenoaks - who had two players of their own booked - read the script and the game was over as a contest inside the first 20 minutes thanks to the lively Andy Martin who claimed two classic striker's goals.

Yet Julian Beal (failing to retreat), Gary Stock (foul), Mark Smith (foul), Dane Luchford (retaliation) and John Goodwin (foul) all had their names taken.

Five cards were shown in the last five minutes - including Holder's second yellow and subsequent red - as substitutes Luchford and Goodwin incurred Beadle's wrath and Beal fell foul of the encroachment rule.

Beal supplied the first with a ninth-minute free-kick into the box that was helped on by Kris Parker and Martin was in exactly the right place at the right time to steer the ball home.

Eleven minutes later and Martin struck again, rounding goalkeeper Joe Skillman and showing incredible strength to drag himself up from the ground to score after being sent crashing by a defender.

But he was piped to the man-of-the-match honours by goalkeeper Tony Diment who pulled off a string of first-class saves deputising for Tim Holmes who was missing through work commitments.

Incredibly, Faversham Town's big home debut in the Kent League looked like it could be a non-event for the second week running with referee Beadle and half the Sevenoaks team caught up in the traffic chaos that followed the M2 lorry smash on Saturday morning.

In the end, Faversham Town's first home game in senior football kicked off 40 minutes late - and the home side should have gone a goal up inside just 18 SECONDS.

Wayne "Junior" Farrell slipped his man down the right and sent in a cross to his opposite wing back Jason Mills who looked certain to score.

But Skillman not only made a good save, he then launched a blistering Sevenoaks counter-attack that ended with Wes Hammond  clearing off the line after Matt Jones-Butler lobbed Diment.

It speaks volumes for the health and ambition of rejuvenated Faversham Town when a crowd of 188 and the biggest of the day in the Kent League is viewed as disappointing.

And the stay-away fans missed a cracker of an opening with Faversham carrying on from their stirring midweek fightback against Herne Bay with some excellent attacking football.

Martin's goals were a just reward but the fact that Diment ended the day as Faversham’s best player tells its own story with the home side stepping off the gas in the second half.

Faversham Town: Tony Diment, Wayne Farrell, Jason Mills, Wes Hammond, James  Holder, Gary Stock, Julian Beal, Steve Aslett (Dave Hockley 80), Andy Martin, Kris Parker (Dane Luchford 59), Mark Smith (John Goodwin 63).

Article and match report courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk