Faversham Town 4-4 Merstham (aet) Faversham won 5-4 on penalties - An exciting night - says Luchford

Tuesday 01st September 2009

FAVERSHAM TOWN 4-4 MERSTHAM
(after extra time - Faversham Town won 5-4 on penalties)

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Preliminary Round Replay

Tuesday 1st September 2009

Mike Green reports from Salters Lane

AN FA Cup replay that had just about the lot - the underdog going behind early on; fighting back and establishing a 3-1 lead before being pegged back with the last knockings of normal time; ahead again with the first attack of extra time before surrendering the lead again; then winning the shoot out seemingly against the odds!

Kent League leaders Faversham Town set up and all Kent League First Qualifying Round tie against Hythe Town at Reachfields after surviving the FA Cup rollercoaster.

For Merstham central defender Tristan Frontin he was to turn from hero to villain as after levelling the scores at 3-3 in the last minute of normal time, it was the giant central defender who drove the 12th kick of the shootout wide of Faversham keeper Rob French's left post to send Justin Luchford's men to face their Kent League rivals on Saturday week in the next round.

You had to feel a little bit of sympathy for Merstham as they played their parts in a pulsating FA Cup tie - indeed it was an evening at Salters Lane that was scripted to the Greatest Cup Competition in the World.

But in the cold light of day, the Ryman League Division One South side will know that they only have themselves to blame for their exit - after leading 2-0 in the original tie (only to be pegged back to 2-2) and then dominating the opening quarter of the replay, Merstham simply gave themselves too much to do as the Lilywhites moved onto the next round.

Indeed despite their early dominance in which wingers Michael Gordon and Jermain McGlashen were a constant threat to Faversham, the visitors only real chance (except for a couple of distance efforts that finished in the car park) came on 11 minutes when Mo Maan saw his shot turned aside by a flying French in the Faversham goal.

The goal that Mersham’s start deserved arrived on 21 minutes when McGlashen broke into the Faversham box only for his run to be abruptly ended by French who was rightly booked as the referee pointed to the spot.

And John Hamsher stepped up to drive his spot kick beyond the keepers valiant dive and into the bottom right corner of the net.

Maan then curled a free kick over that saw Craig Vernon hit the outside of the post with a header as the home side were really rocked.

Gordon then created a chance for Julian Owusu Berkof which disappeared into the car park and yet from that moment on it seemed that Merstham's invincibility followed the ball out of the ground.

All of a sudden Faversham realised that they had a chance and the visitors that they were involved in a Cup tie! And on 26 minutes, the home side levelled courtesy of a thumping header from Lee Shearer. A right wing corner found the veteran central defender with pin point accuracy and Shearer's header thumped into the net to bring Faversham level.

They were in front before half time. Damien Abel dispossess Harte on half way and the ball broke in the path of Michael Smissen who sprinted clear, rounded the keeper and coolly slipped the ball into the net from a tight angle.

It was 3-1 shortly after half time, as Smissen tangled with Vernon, and as the striker fell to the ground the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Shearer with some aplomb and blasted the ball into the net.

Merstham then lost keeper Chatfield with what appeared to be a shoulder injury as he clashed with Jack Tanner as the Faversham man burst through. In truth the challenge looked more like a penalty than the one that was actually given!

The visitors did pull a goal back on 59 minutes as Maan shot through the crowd from the edge of the box, and now with just a goal in it the pendulum in this tie literally swung from end to end with both sides guilty of missing a golden chance.

Merstham's came first on 82 minutes when Gordon cut in off the wing and found substitute David Smith, who's first time drive drew an excellent low save from French whilst at the other end, Faversham could have sealed the contest on 84 minutes.

Abel's excellent run into the area saw his cross shot loop up into the air off of the keeper, and as home subsitute Richard Sinden was about to pounce, Harte arrived from no where to hook the ball off the line and away to safety despite home appeals that the ball had crossed the line.

That was to prove costly for the home side as with less than 90 seconds left of the 90 minutes, Merstham equalised.

A deep corner from Hamsher, was met by the imposing figure of Frontin and his header flew past French and into the net.

The visitors even had time to win the game in stoppage time but McGlashan's header sailed over the bar after the impressive Gordon had again been the supply line.

3-3 then after 90 minutes - what awaited us in extra time?

Well few people would have thought that Faversham would have responded the way they did, but full credit to the Kent League leaders as within a minute of the restart they were ahead yet again.

Luchford bustled his way through to half way and then released Sinden, and the substitute easily outpaced the tiring defence to race clear and coolly beat Smelt from the edge of the box as the sub keeper came out. All that just a minute in to the extra period!

Back the pendulum swung - Hamsher unleashed a 30 yard drive that had French grasping thin air, before Abel should really have sealed the game at the other end but he shot wide when well placed. the first extra period ended with French making an excellent save to deny Gordon, but Merstham's tricky winger was to have the last but one word.

Two minutes into the start of the final period, Gordon picked the ball up on the edge of the home penalty area before driving the ball through the crowd and this time French had no chance of getting to the ball and we were back to square one - tied up at 4-4!

Both sides had chances to win the game - Luchford burst through to shoot wide whilst Adam Moriarty's drive in the dying seconds flew just to high over the Faversham goal and so after 180 minutes and 12 goals, Hythe Town's opponents in the First Qualifying Round were to be decided by penalties...

Faversham went first, and the dependable Shearer scored, only for substitute Aaron Cole Bolt to level.

Dan Larkin then put the home side back in front before Hamsher (like Shearer before him) repeated his feat from the game itself to level the spot kicks up at 2-2.

Dale Skelton then put the home side ahead again only for Vernon to bring the scores back to 3-3. Luchford and Smith then exchanged spot kicks and it was tied at 4-4 which is when the real drama started.

Sinden smacked his penalty against the bar, which meant that if Zak Graham scored, the visitors were through.

French though had other ideas pulling off a fine save away to his left - 4-4 then after the first five penalties - we entered sudden death.

Faversham substitute Aaron Quain held his nerve, but Frontin who had sent the tie into Extra Time remember, couldn't and fired wide sending Faversham through after a pulsating night at Salters Lane...

Next stop on this particular Road to Wembley is a date at Reachfields then for Justin Luchford and his side meaning that not only does this now guarantees a Kent League side in the Second Qualifying Round, it also means that the two Kent League rivals now face each other on consecutive Saturdays - one in the Cup and one in the League... Who I wonder will take those bragging rights, but the bragging rights on Tuesday night most definitely belong to the Kent League and Faversham Town.

One side had to lose, and Faversham manager Justin Luchford was quick to praise Merstham, for playing their part in an amazing game.

“These were two decent teams who gave it their all,” Luchford told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Any penalty shoot-out, it doesn’t matter what cup it is, the Kent League Cup or FA Cup, when you win a penalty shoot-out, it’s very exciting for the players.

“I spent time to congratulate their manager and players for playing their part. I’ve seen quite a few Ryman League sides in pre-season, and they are one of the best sides that I’ve seen for quite a while.

“Merstham were very good with some very good players. John Hamshare was at Rushden & Diamonds a few years ago. They passed the ball round, worked very hard for each other, and they’ve got a lovely set-up with some lovely people running the club.”

Luchford added: “It was a long night, but I think we probably deserved it in the end.”

Faversham Town: Rob French, Shane Hamshare, Dan Larkin, Tom Hickman, Ashley Brown, Lee Shearer, Dale Skelton, Damian Abel (Nick Shaw 111), Michael Smissen (Richard Sinden 65), Jack Tanner (Aaron Quain 65), Dane Luchford.
Subs: Dave Soutan, Jamie Sparks, Craig Thompson

Booked: Rob French 21, Richard Sinden 90, Dan Larkin 90, Shane Hamshare 94

Goals: Lee Shearer 26, 50 (pen), Michael Smissen 34, Richard Sinden 92

Merstham: Ian Chatfield (Jack Smelt 57), Stuart Harte, Adam Moriarty, Tristan Frontin, Craig Vernon, John Hamsher, Michael Gordon, Mo Maan (David Smith 75), Julian Owusu Bekof (Aaron Coyle Bolt 69), Zak Graham, Jermain McGlashen
Subs: Tom Hughes; Anthony Myers

Booked: Craig Vernon 50

Goals: John Hamsher pen 20; Mo Maan 60; Tristan Frontin 88; Michael Gordon 107