Faversham Town 1-1 VCD Athletic - Now we're in this position, we've got to fight to stay there, says proud table-topping VCD Athletic joint-manager Danny Joy

Faversham Town 1 – 1 VCD Athletic
Location	Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND
Kickoff	30/11/2024 15:00

FAVERSHAM TOWN  1-1  VCD ATHLETIC
Presence & Co Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 30 November 2024
Stephen McCartney reports from Salters Lane

VCD ATHLETIC joint-manager Danny Joy says he is not sure whether people believe his side are a serious player in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division title race despite showing that they can be taken seriously after earning a deserved point in this top-of-the-table clash.

A crowd of 482 were at Salters Lane to watch these two sides battle it out for top spot in this ninth-tier division going into December and VCD Athletic maintained a one point lead on Faversham Town, who do have a game in hand.

VCD (Vickers Crayford Dartford) Athletic were the better side and controlled most of this cagey encounter but it was Faversham Town who grabbed the lead, against-the-run-of-play at the time, with right-winger Nathan Wood, 25, scoring his eighth-goal of the season following a goal-mouth scramble with 18 minutes left.

However, Vickers’ striker, Ollie Freeman notched his 14^th goal of the season to restore parity, following a set-piece, to keep the Crayford-based outfit at the summit.

Both sides have lost just the one league game, with Faversham Town losing 1-0 at home to Larkfield & New Hythe, while VCD Athletic lost 3-2 at Punjab United on the same night (Tuesday 22 October). 

Since Favershan Town were knocked out of The FA Cup in the First Qualifying Round back on 3 September, they have picked up 14 wins, three draws and just one defeat in their last 18 outings in all competitions (not including the abandoned Kent Senior Trophy tie at Tunbridge Wells last weekend).

VCD Athletic were knocked out of The FA Cup a round earlier (24 August) and have picked up 13 wins, six draws and two defeats in all competitions since then.

“I think it was well worth a point. I think in these big games you can sort of get drawn into changing your style or get caught up in the game but I thought we really struck to our principles today and I thought we played some really good stuff, under pressure,” said Joy.

“Listen, Faversham are a really good side but I thought we pretty much dominated the ball.  There weren’t really loads of chances at either end but I think a point was probably a fair result but I’m pleased with the boys and I’m proud of the performance.”

Faversham Town boss Tommy Warrilow added: “I thought it was a fair result.  There was a lot of possession but I’m looking at the goalies and I’m like Jacob (Russell) made a good save from a header in the first half and then I’m trying to think of another save. The same with Walks.  Andy Walker has made a good save from Hasler’s free-kick, we’ve obviously hit he bar.

“The goal summed the game up, I think. A little bit scrambly and that was what broke the deadlock.

“if Johan (Caney-Bryan) puts his header away at the back stick that got cleared off the line, then that’s…

“But fair play to them, they’ve kept going and they’ve cashed in and from our point of view, I’m disappointed because it’s from a set-piece where we’re not marking.”

Both Warrilow and Joy were asked about what threats their opponents posed.

Warrilow said: “Just their movement. Everyone knows I’ve had them watched and that they’re similar to us in respect of their full-backs push on and getting on high, so we knew what we was in for.

“But it’s alright having a threat or whatever but like I said to the boys, it’s that end product and today I thought neither side really tested the goalie’s that much.

“But there was a lot of build-up play going into it and then it’s come into a bit of an anti-climax but listen, it’s a good point because I’ll be honest, we wasn’t at the races today and that’s not taking nothing away from VCD.

“I thought as a team we under-performed. We’re better than that but like I said you get games like that and today was one of those games – but we’ve got a point!”

Joy added: “They were very, very dangerous from set-pieces and a lot of their game plan is built around their strengths, which is obviously being big and strong.

“I thought we dominated the ball quite a lot.  I thought they let us play at the back but I think we tried to play through the lines.”

VCD Athletic rose to the challenge and put in an impressive performance and gave their rivals no respect, as they were a threat down both flanks through Charlie Heatley (left) and Nathaniel Olawale, with attacking midfielder Bethel Oboda pulling the strings with an impressive performance.

Faversham Town’s players appeared to have froze on this big occasion, playing a direct style of football with left-back Bradley Simms launching 12 long throws into the Vickers’ penalty area, with Michael Fenn putting in a very dominant and resilient performance at the heart of Vickers’ defence.

When asked about using Simms’ long throws, Warrilow replied: “It is a threat. They’ve got one as well, so if you’ve got it, you use it. The annoying thing is we’ve not got anything out of it, so whether it was the first phase or the second phase, it’s bits we’ve got to work on but we’re better than that as well.”

Joy added: “We dealt with it. It was an issue earlier in the season.  We have addressed it. We have done something off-piste but it seems to have worked. It hasn’t cost us anything since.”

When asked about Fenn’s man-of-the-match performance, Joy replied: “Both centre-halves (Ben Fitchett) were good. Michael Fenn plays the left-hand side as a right-footed centre-half, which makes it difficult to start with.

“I thought aerially they dealt with Tashi-Jay Kwayie and Johan Caney-Bryan, who are two fantastic centre-forwards.

“I thought the back four were excellent today. I’m proud of our back four today. Our back four has chopped and changed but I thought they stood up and they were counted today and they’ve probably got us a point.”

VCD Athletic created the first chance of the game, following a well-worked free-kick, just five minutes and 23 seconds into the game after Faversham Town centre-half Callum Davies had fouled VCD Athletic’s central midfielder Lee Bird.

Gboda worked a clever free-kick down the side for right-back Harry Lawrence to put in a low cross and the ball came out to Bird, who clipped a first time left-footed drive from the edge of the D straight down Jacob Russell’s throat for a comfortable catch.

“I mean, it was bright. We started brightly.  We work on things, we work on tactical free-kicks because we’re not the biggest of the most powerful side. We just can’t smash balls into the box, so we have to be clever and that’s something that we work on at the training ground,” revealed Joy.

Lawrence kept Faversham Town’s left-winger Kieron Campbell in his pocket and it was a surprise when Campbell scooped the sponsors’ man-of-the-match award.

“I don’t think we got it into wide areas enough,” admitted Warrilow.

“Nathan Wood and Kieron Campbell today – not digging them out – my full-backs (Ossai and Simms) normally get on and get crosses in and I’m sort of counting on one hand how many crosses have gone in today.

“If it doesn’t work, we have to work something else but the centre of the pitch was a bit compact so I thought we’ve given the ball away ever so cheaply in the first half. Our choice of pass was poor and when we do that, obviously the counter-attacks are on.”

Lawrence’s only stain on his copy book was to lose the ball to Faversham’s 13-goal striker Johan Caney-Bryan, who worked the ball along the 18-yard line for Wood to cut inside and stroke a shot towards the bottom right-hand corner, only for Vickers’ 43-year-old goalkeeper Andy Walker to dive low to his left to parry, as the home side created their first chance with seven minutes and 32 seconds on the clock.

Walker, meanwhile, is adamant he will not move into management or coaching when he hangs up the gloves – which will be a shame because he has a lot to give with his vast experience at all levels.

“We’ve missed Walker massively,” admitted Joy.

“We knew that Nathan Wood was going to cause us problems ability wise, the same as Sam Hasler.  We have to stop these boys from shooting from long range but over 90 minutes it’s impossible to shut these players out.  They’re very good players but Walks was solid. Walks is huge for us.”

Both sides played out from the back and both sides cancelled each other out but the away side went direct in the 19^th minute.

Lawrence hit a 60-yard diagonal across the pitch and over Faversham’s right-back Tariq Ossai for Heatley, to take a touch before drilling a left-footed angled drive flashing past the near-post from just inside the corner of the penalty area.

“We like to play but every now and then, if there’s something on and we can open the game up (we will go long),” said Joy.

“Charlie was a threat all day. Charlie works so hard to the point he was out on his feet. Charlie’s a threat both ways. It was speculative but to be fair, if the goes in the top corner, you’re saying it’s a great goal!”

The game was played at a slow tempo and Faversham Town’s players put in a flat performance and Warrilow was asked whether his players’ froze during this high-stakes game.

“We got into areas and it flattered to deceive so I can only remember a couple of saves from both goalies really,” added Warrilow.

“Listen, I don’t want to be disrespectful. What an occasion. We’re not even halfway through the season, it’s just ridiculous! Even if we had won today, I wouldn’t have been jumping up and down. It’s a long way to go. I know all of those boys at VCD. It ain’t all over.  Obviously, it’s nice but you’ve got to keep a level head and push on.

“But like I said to the boys afterwards, looking at my team, especially with the experience they’ve all got, they freeze in a game like this, then they shouldn’t be playing football!

“Did we freeze? No, not at all! It’s just one of those games. You get a side where we demand a lot and today I just think we dropped our standards a little bit.”

The Lilywhites won a free-kick when Fenn tussled with 19-goal striker Tashi-Jay Kwayie and referee Howard Collins awarded the home side a free-kick some 35-yards from goal.

Central midfielder Samuel Hasler drilled a high-quality left-footed free-kick towards goal, forcing Walker to step to his right (from within a crowd of players) and use both hands to beat the ball towards safety.

“Walks has been around hasn’t he, so (he’s got) good positioning sense because if he comes to his left a little bit, I think that goes in, but he’s got two strong hands behind it,” added Warrilow.

Joy added: “He hit it like a bullet.  To be fair, Hasler’s delivery is second to none. There’s probably no one at this level nowhere near the delivery that he’s got. It was a great strike but Walker saw it all the way and I think he made a good decision to try to punch rather than try to catch because if he spills it, they probably tap one in.”

Faversham Town goalkeeper Jacob Russell used his fingertips to thwart Freeman in the 37^th minute.

Left-back Tom Cousins threw the ball short to Bird, who worked a short pass back to Cousins within the left-channel and he cut the ball onto his right-foot before whipping in a cross towards Freeman, who’s header from 16-yards was tipped over the bar by Russell from the centre of his goal.

Joy praised his full-back for putting in a great cross.

“The full-backs are big in what we try to do. The full-backs both have got a lot of energy so it does allow us to sort to double up at times.  I thought Tom Cousins was good today defensively, as well as going forward. The full-backs being apart of the attack is defiantly something that we work on.”

Warrilow added: “It was a good (cross) and it’s whipped in and he’s got the header on it. It was a good header and a good save, so luckily enough it was central, so it was a good save.”

Ben Gorham launched a long ball out of Faversham’s back four with a drilled right-footed ball into the right-channel and Caney-Bryan cut the ball back for Hasler to take a touch before dragging his left-footed shot across Walker and harmlessly wide of the right-hand post from 18-yards.

Both Warrilow and Joy were asked their thoughts going into the break all square.

Warrilow said: “I just thought the first half we gave the ball away cheaply, so I just said to them to ‘step up!’

“We just looked a little bit off it, our body language and things like that, so I asked them to step up and I think we did for the first 10-15 minutes of the second half.  We were looking up that way (going forward) a little bit more and then it’s the occasional break but I don’t remember any saves really in the second half.

“Listen, it was a good game. I thought it was an entertaining game for the big crowd but there was no real, that final bit, both sides lacked it.”

Joy added: “That half the job was done! We felt that we were more than in the game and that we couldn’t drop off ourselves because Faversham will punish us because it was really only halfway.  We needed to keep the intensity up second half, which I think we did.”

Faversham Town almost grabbed the lead with a moment of Hasler quality, 135 seconds into the second half.

Simms launched his ninth long throw into the penalty area, the ball was cleared away by Fenn at the far post and the ball came out to Hasler, who hit a left-footed volley, which clipped the top of the crossbar from 35-yards out.

Warrilow said: “That’s what he can give you. You just don’t know. Out of the blue he can give you something like that but unfortunately for us, it’s just not gone under the bar.”

Joy added: “A great strike. What can you say about that? It’s not a defensive error. We’ve won the first ball. I would think 99 per cent of people in the league, that probably ends up in the car park but he’s got such of a wand of a left-foot.  You need a bit of luck on away days and we got that.”

Everyone expected Simms to line up another long throw but this time he threw it short to Ossai, who delivered a deep cross and Davies came up from the back to steer his free-header straight into Walker’s grateful hands for a comfortable catch.

The 23-year-old Rusell made a comfortable low save to his left to deny VCD Athletic the lead on the hour-mark.

Lawrence threw the ball down the line and winger Olawole played the ball inside for Freeman to take a touch before stroking a left-footed drive from 18-yards, which was held by the Faversham goalkeeper.

The 41-year-old Joy said: “The ball got played from the right-hand side. Ollie’s let the ball roll across him.  Maybe both attempts, he was a little bit wide of the goal to create the power.  Ideally, you just want the ball moving onto Charlie but Ollie’s in fine form. If it goes in the top corner, everyone goes ‘what an amazing goal!’ but there was probably a better option on.”

Warrilow wasn’t impressed, adding, “That’s what I mean. I can save that! I’m not digging Ollie Freeman out.  He’s just not got hold of it properly, thankfully. We shouldn’t really be scrambling at this sort of things should we?”

When asked what was missing from his players today, the 60-year-old replied: “Just nothing today. We just turned up and it was just one of those games. I don’t know why. For all the games to pick. I did say beforehand, some of these games end up being a bit of an anti-climax and for me it was because I know we’re miles, miles better than that but we’ve got a point against a very good side.”

Warrilow’s title favourites were putting in a lacklustre performance but you sensed that they would grab the lead and their goal summed up their scruffy performance.

The goal arrived with 26 minutes and 28 seconds on the clock.

Gorham hit a long diagonal out of defence and Ossai reached the by-line and hung over a cross towards the back post.

Kwayie burst into life and knocked his header towards goal. Walker did brilliantly to dive to his left to claw the ball to prevent it finding the far corner and from inside a crowd of players, Wood scrambled the ball over the line.

“We didn’t know if it was in, not in. The linesman (Tyler Dimineux) was luckily enough up with play and we thought that sort of summed it up really,” added Warrilow.

“Hopefully we could see it out and that’s why I was disappointed that we’ve conceded from a set-piece. It’s not even from open play.”

When asked about Wood’s contribution to the season, Warrilow replied: He has but today I thought him and KC (Campbell), we didn’t give him the ball enough and that’s no reflection on them.  It’s his overall play. He has chipped in with goals but his overall play has been a real handful. Unfortunately, today I don’t think we’ve used those areas enough.”

Joy added: “I weren’t sure, there were so many men in the box. I don’t know if it was a foul on the keeper. I just don’t know. It was such a calamity! It was a bit of a scramble to be fair.

“The pleasing thing with us is we didn’t panic. We went 1-0 down, we could’ve sort of lost our head a little bit but we didn’t. We kept trying to play.”

Going a goal down at that time of the game was harsh on VCD Athletic.

“Even when we conceded, I still felt we would have a chance, at least one chance,” admitted Joy.

“The last few weeks, once we’ve conceded, we’ve had a bit of a wobble and we’ve not been able to come through it but today I felt even when we went behind, we would still create enough to still come home with a point.”

Vickers’ holding midfielder, Connor Dymond was adjudged to have fouled Hasler and Walker lined up a four-man wall for Hasler’s resulting left-footed free-kick, which he placed across Walker and just past the foot of the far post from 25-yards.

VCD Athletic knocked Warriliow’s men off top spot by equalising with 37 minutes and 12 seconds on the clock, after Simms fouled Olawole some 35-yards from goal.

Three subs were about to enter the field.  Dymond floated a quality delivery with his right-foot into the penalty area and Freeman placed his left-footed volley into the left-hand corner with a clinical strike.

“That was completely off script because (debutant) Malachi Morris was meant to take it but Connor’s pulled rank being an experienced player and Connor put a lovely ball into the box, into an area really that’s impossible to defend and luckily we got to it first,” revealed Joy.

“Other than goals, Ollie Freeman gives us a focal point at the top end of the pitch.  Ollie holds the ball, retains the ball well and Ollie works his socks off. As a centre forward we need to know when the ball goes forward, it sticks. I thought he was excellent today.”

A disappointed Warrilow, added: ”It’s a great ball in by Connor. We were right behind it. A great delivery but we’ve got to deal with it and we didn’t.  We needed to take some responsibility. It someone’s going to score against you, make them earn it. For them, obviously it’s a great goal but we should be defending that a lot, lot better!

“I don’t care how many players you’ve got on the pitch, I don’t expect us to concede a goal from a set-piece – but we have!”

Matthew Newman’s first-time drive was comfortably gathered by Walker down on his knees after Hasler drilled a free-kick into the wall as the game entered the final five minutes.

Simms launched his 12^th and final long throw into the Vickers’ penalty area, the ball came out to Wood, who put the ball into the box from within the right-channel and Caney-Bryan’s header at the far post was blocked.  Had it gone in, it would have been very harsh on Joy and Ross Baker’s side, who proved that they can be taken as serious title-contenders on their performance here today.

VCD Athletic (11 wins, five draws and one defeat) go into December still at the summit, having picked up 38 points from their 17 games.

Faversham Town (11 wins, four draws and one defeat) remain in second-place with 37 points from 16 games and are in the play-off zone with Ajay Ashanike’s surprise package in Fisher (35 points from 19 games), Chipie Sian’s Punjab United (31 points from 18 games) and Danny Lye’s Larkfield & New Hythe (30 points from 18 games).

“I don’t know how long into the season we wait before we start to take it seriously from our point of view,” said Joy, who was without Zak Byron, who is expected to be out for six weeks with a dislocated shoulder, while Dymond’s shoulder injury that he picked up during today’s outing, will be assessed during the week.

“We’ve come here, we’ve implemented our style against a side that are red hot favourites and I think we’re going home with a well-deserved point, so whether the people in the league start to think we are a serious player, I’m not sure but from our point of view this was a big game today – but it’s just another game.

“If we would’ve won or would’ve lost, nothing’s decided today but to come here and get a good point and be well in the game for 90 minutes, is credit to the boys and credit to the style of football we try to play.

“But there is a long way to go but we’ll just take one game at a time, I know it’s a cliché.”

When asked whether he was happy to come away with a point, Warrilow admitted: “Yes, of course I am. Yes, because of the performance for me because it was a below-par performance from us.

“It might sound harsh or whatever but I think the boys are a honest enough set of lads and they know as well.

“We’ve lost once in the last 16 games, we’ve only drawn four of them, so how can I be critical? I’ve always want more but today we just dropped (standards) a little bit but with those sort of stats, I’m not going to go over the top with it. I’m just disappointed. We’re better than that today.”

When asked about the title race, Warrilow replied: “God knows! How do you see it?

“Get Christmas and New Year out of the way and then we’ll have a little look at it then but at the moment I wouldn’t call anything.

“There’s no point building up these games and going ‘we’ve got to beat VCD.’  We haven’t got to beat them, you’ve got to beat everyone.  You’ve got to treat everyone (with respect).  As a manger, I don’t care where you are in the league. You’re going to get the most out of my side and the most that I can get out of them and you’re going to be treated the same way.

“There’s no pressure. That ain’t pressure mate. That’s what I said about this being a big occasion. If there is pressure, you should put pressure on yourself, whatever you do. Work, whatever you do, football, work, going to the…. Do the most you can, the best you can and if it’s good enough that’s all you can ask. If it's not….”

Both of these sides are in FA Vase Third Round action next Saturday.  Faversham Town host their ninth-placed league rivals Erith & Belvedere.

Billy Hamlin and Jamie Phipps’ side lost 3-0 at Whitstable Town today. Jamie Coyle’s side are seriously underperforming and they go into December sitting in fourteenth-place in the table, 17 points adrift of the leaders.

“We’ll be in on Tuesday. I saw Erith & Belvedere the other week.  I’ve seen games on a Tuesday and it’s completely different on a Saturday and against us teams are a little bit different as well," added Warrilow.

“I don’t want to sound arrogant or whatever but teams tend to sit behind the ball a little bit more when we have it and like I said to the boys we’ve just got to be patient. We don’t have a divine right to win a game of football but we’ve got to be a little bit more clever about our movement and definitely our choice of pass and I thought today that’s what let us down.

“I’m gutted we just didn’t put a better performance on for (our fans). We’ve not lost but hopefully they come back.  Listen, we’re up there, so hopefully the town gets behind us, because it deserves it.

“Gary Smart (chairman) and all the boys at the board level deserve to get good crowds in. Good things are happening here. We’ve come off and we’re disappointed to get a one-all draw today, so that sort of shows the expectations we have here.

“Erith & Belvedere are going to be a tough cookie. Listen, because of the stigma around the club, we’re glad that’s all sort of calmed down a little bit. Obviously, there’s no secret everyone wants to come and roll us over and they think it’s a massive scalp.

“It’s a long way to go but I’m at a club here that’s got loads of ambition. It’s fantastic what’s happened over here in the last couple of years and it doesn’t deserve to be at this level, so that’s what we emphasised to the boys. We’ve got to try to get out of this league. We were unlucky last year but this year we’ve got to try to get out of this league but it’s easier said than done.”

Vickers’ meanwhile, welcome Combined Counties League Division One side Windsor & Eton to Oakwood.  Matt Angell’s tenth-tier side sit in third-place in the table with 49 points (16 wins, one draw and two defeats) and are five points adrift of the leaders (Westside) and beat Yateley United 2-0 at Stag Meadow today.

“Next week, we’ve got the third round of the Vase, which is massive for the club, against a side from Step Six that are flying, so that’s another tough game,” warned Joy.

“Everyone wants to beat us but I just think as long as we stick to our principles, we’ll be alright.

“We won’t change how we play. We won’t change the shape of our side. We’ve got a work ethic and principles that we have to stuck to and everyone wants to beat us but as up until now it’s only happened once (in the League).

“I would think 90 percent of people in this stadium today expected us to fold and Faversham to win but I’ve got to be honest with you, I’m going home a little bit disappointed that we’re only going home with a point.

“Windsor & Eton are a good side. We’ve had them watched. They’re a very good side, they play, by all accounts, the guy who’s gone to watch them for us, said they’re the best side at their level football wise.  They play a real good style of football. I think they’re quite well backed where they are. I’m sure they would’ve had us watched but it’s on the day.

“The Vase is sort of like a nice release from the league because the league is real pressure and at the moment the Vase isn’t becoming pressure, maybe the next two rounds then it might be but at the moment the Vase is a nice release and it’s nice for the boys, it’s nice for us like, it just gives us a nice little bit of recognition.”

When asked what success if for the Vickers’ this season, Joy replied: “I think the play-offs is success.   We finished 12^th (50 points from 40 games) last season, so for us to win the league, that’s 12 positions in the league, that’s a massive jump, probably unheard off.

“If we can stay in and around the top two or three all season, we’re happy. We never started with any real expectation. We just wanted to improve on last season and if we’re honest, we’ve started better than what we were expecting and now we’re in this position, we’ve got to fight to stay there, we’ve got to fight.”

Faversham Town: Jacob Russell, Tariq Ossai, Bradley Simms, Matthew Newman, Callum Davies, Ben Gorham, Kieron Campbell (Jarred Trespaderne 88), Samuel Hasler (Frannie Collin 87), Johan Caney-Bryan, Tashi-Jay Kwayie, Nathan Wood.
Subs: Billy Bennett, Daniel Thompson, Bradley Schafer

Goal: Nathan Wood 72

Booked: Callum Davies 45, Kieron Campbell 63

VCD Athletic: Andy Walker, Harry Lawrence, Tom Cousins, Connor Dymond, Ben Fitchett, Michael Fenn, Charlie Heatley (Richard Jimoh 77), Lee Bird, Ollie Freeman (George Whitelock 88), Bethel Gboda (Malachi Morris 77), Nathaniel Olawole (Connor Kelly 88).
Sub: Harry Sargent

Goal: Ollie Freeman 83

Booked: Ollie Freeman 40, Connor Dymond 76

Attendance: 482
Referee: Mr Howard Collins
Assistants: Mr Harrison Clark & Mr Tyler Diminieux
Observer:  Mr Brian Smith