Faversham Town 0-0 Merstham - I'd have asked for my money back after that, admits Justin Luchford

Saturday 05th March 2011

FAVERSHAM TOWN 0-0 MERSTHAM
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 5th March 2011
Mike Green reports from Salters Lane

“Awful – that’s the worst we’ve played for four months”, moaned Faversham Town boss Justin Luchford after an uninspired afternoon goal less draw with Merstham in the gloom of Salters Lane, which ended in controversy as their leading scorer was sent off in stoppage time after an altercation with a member of the crowd.

The game itself wasn’t the best played in Ryman League Division One South this or any other season for that matter, and as it entered stoppage time it was already being consigned to the distant memory.

But then as Damien Abel was flagged offside in stoppage time, a member of the crowd was heard by many sitting in the stand on the A2 side of the ground to question Abel’s position in the side by accusing him of “not being part of this team!”

Regretfully Abel reacted and was hauled away by team mates only to make a gesture towards the spectator which saw referee Mr Richardson brandish the red card in Abel’s direction.

Now at the time it wasn’t clear if Mr Richardson thought the gesture was directed towards his assistant Mr Ingram, but the aforementioned Mr Ingram must credited for forming a barrier between Abel and the crowd member as the striker motioned again towards the stand.

What happens to Abel now must be in question, but if the referee’s report states that Abel’s gesture was directed in Mr Ingram’s direction, then Mr Richardson will cap a personal poor performance even further…

A disgruntled Luchford said after the game, “It was an awful game! I’ve just said to the lads in the dressing room that they owe me now!

“I’ve been here three and a half years and my teams will go out to give 100 percent win lose or draw. But they did not give one hundred percent today and my blood is boiling, as I just won’t accept that. I don’t mind if we are poor – if everyone’s poor.

“Tuesday night we were awesome against Burgess Hill and didn’t get the rewards, and today they haven’t given me 100 percent and I’m absolutely fuming.

“Every team that plays against us wakes up in the morning and thinks that I’ve got to do a lot of running today, its going to be hard work – we don’t want to got to Faversham.

“I thought they were poor but I thought we were just as bad – we may have created more chances but we didn’t deserve anything from the game. No that’s not true – we deserved the clean sheet as we defended fairly well, but I’m not having my teams put in performances like that!

“Everything’s gone against us today – we played poorly; we haven’t won the game and now we’ve lost Damien for three games – I need some good news tonight!”

Sadly there was little to offer the Faversham boss, as his side were consistently frustrated by a Merstham defence that was superbly mastered by Michael Corbett who was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch.

And on the rare occasion the home forward line did manage to get past Corbett, they found keeper Ian Chatfield in inspired form.

But to be fair it was exactly the same at the other end when Ashley Brown and Matt Bourne were tremendous at the heart of the home defence and when called upon keeper Simon Overland made two saves straight out of the top draw.

Indeed the first of those was the highlight of a dire opening 45 minutes. It came just past the midway point of the half when Harry Ottaway jinked through on the edge of the box before shooting across Overland and because the ball took a wicked bounce in front of the keepers dive, it made the save even better.

The half wasn’t helped by referee Mr Wilkinson, who especially in the case of Merstham full back Emmanuel Adjei’s almost constant “assault” on Dave Botterill was incredibly lenient! In an era when officials are more under the microscope than ever, a referee not asserting his authority on a game surely cannot help with the consistency that everyone in the game is currently clamouring for!

Fortunately the second half was better if only slightly, as chances came and went at both ends.

David Bathgate was denied by a fabulous Chatfield save on 64 minutes after Abel had skied a great chance into the car park moments earlier, but Craig Vernon, on a sub for the visitors nearly scored with his first touch only for Overland to palm the ball away to safety.

The home side were then indebted to Shane Hamshare for clearing a Corbett header off the line, before Overland produced a stunning save to deny Ottaway’s flying header (from Freddie Myers whipped in free kick).

Then in stoppage time Bourne had a free header from a Dane Luchford corner but could only direct it straight at a relieved Chatfield from six yards.

Then came the Abel sending off, on which his manager was very diplomatic when questioned after the game.

He said: “I’ve got to be careful in what I say! I read the forums; I know what the people think at this football club and the players feel that frustration as well and when people, make comments by fans, they’ve got the right to air their opinion. They pay their money to walk into this ground so of course they’ve got a right to their opinion. I just think that we as a team need a bit more support the moment!”

The game also saw the return of Richard Sinden to Faversham colours – a move that took a lot of people by surprise.

Luchford explained the reasoning behind the re-signing (from East Grinstead) when he said, “He (Sinden) only left the club as he moved out of the area. Now he’s back and I needed some back up off the bench and everyone knows that Sinden off of the bench is lethal and I’ve been speaking to him regularly through the season – he’s a great lad – and a good addition for us.

“Even today you saw a couple of times, perhaps if he had more match fitness he could have knocked us a win, but I just think that it’s a shrewd move at this stage of the season, as you can’t go out and bring someone form the outside in.

“I needed someone who wants to come in and know the club as monies tight and we’re not getting the gates.

“I spoke to Richard last couple of days and we did a deal and I’m pleased to have him back.”

Given the incident at the end of the game, the Faversham boss admitted that he was a loss why the support that his enjoyed last season (and at times was well over 200 for a home fixture) had at times this season halved.

He said: “As a manager you bang your head. I know that I keep getting destroyed by the locals and on the forums about the football we play. When you put the heart and the sole in the club as I do – I do the best I can to get the results for the club, I’m not here to win friends.

“The club were playing great football when they were bottom of the Kent League – since then we’ve won the league and the Senior Trophy and we’re pushing the play-off places in our first season in the Ryman. I’m not to sure how much more I can do – I can only do my job and if its not good enough for the committee and it’s not good enough for the fans then they tell me its not right for me to here then I won’t be here. But that will be the decision that they make – I’ve “just” got to keep working hard and if we get the results and people come through the gate great.

“The gate wasn’t bad today and its probably the worst we’ve played in four months. I stood at the end and clapped them as I always do and I just wanted to hold up a big banner that said “SORRY!” because the one thing that they do recognise is that we give one hundred percent and they didn’t get that today and I think I’d want my money back too!”

That said there does appear to be some light ahead for Luchford and his players as the manager agreed,

“Ten games left and the play-off’s are within sight, but we’ve got Bognor Regis next week away from home, and if we perform like that, it’ll be a long old trip home,” he said.

“But I know my lads and I’m fairly confident that we’ll give Bognor a game next week so lets see what happens over the next two weekends as we’re at Bognor and then have Burgess Hill at home and if we come out of those with three or four points then we might have a chance! But until then I’m just so deflated after that performance today, I just don’t know…”

Faversham Town: Simon Overland, Shane Hamshare, Jack Baldwin, Tom Hickman, Ashley Brown, Matt Bourne, Dane Luchford, David Bathgate (Jake LeBerl 72), Justin Ascheri (Dean Grant 63), Damien Abel, Dave Boterill (Richard Sinden 72).

Subs: Pierrick Briand, Rob French

Booked: Damien Abel 28, Shane Hamshare 62

Sent Off: Damian Abel 90

Merstham: Ian Chatfield, Emmanuel Adjei (Steve Rollinson 60), Fabio Saraiva, Adam Moriarty, Michael Corbett, Bradley Duke, Dale Marvell, Omar Folkes, Sean Rivers (Freddie Myers 46), Harry Ottaway, Leon McDowall (Craig Vernon 75).

Sub: Ross White

Booked: Omar Foulkes 49, Freddie Myers 68

Attendance: 137

Referee: Mr David Richardson (Epsom, Surrey)

Assistants: Mr Gregory Read (Addlestone, Surrey) & Mr Wayne Ingram (New Malden, Surrey)