Kentish Football 
Match Reports: Lilywhites smash ten past Bengal
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FAVERSHAM TOWN 10-0 SPORTING BENGAL UNITED
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 15th November 2008
Tony Gray reports from Salters Lane
IT WAS a case of goals, goals, goals for the Lilywhites as they knocked ten past a Sporting Bengal side still looking to secure their first points of the season.
Despite the final score there was little between the two sides for the first 30 minutes.
Damian Abel had a chance on 10 minutes finding himself one on one with Soyful Ali, Abel's shot just wide of the target whilst at the other end the best of the early chances fell to Bengal's Aubin Gomis who picked up a poor clearance from Faversham Town keeper Kevin Readings only to see his long range effort beat Readings but smash against the crossbar.
The home side eventually took the lead on 39 minutes through the impressive Abel who received the ball on the left side of the penalty area before striking the ball low past the outstretched Ali.
When Shane Hamshare was brought down inside the box three minutes later the game descended, momentarily, into farce as Faversham Town were awarded a penalty kick.
In the absence of Lee Shearer, Abel stepped up for the spot kick which was well saved by Ali, the visiting keeper was deemed to have come off his line so referee Scot Fraser ordered the kick to be re-taken only for Ali to make another excellent save.
Third time of asking - same result, well placed spot kick more than matched by the keeper!
With six minutes of time added on Faversham Town took advantage adding two before the half-time whistle, on 49 minutes a Bengal defender appeared to handle the ball inside the area although referee Fraser indicated a free-kick outside of the penalty box before consulting with his assistant and deciding on a drop-ball to restart the action.
From the restart the ball fell to Faversham Town's Dave Soutan who dispatched a well driven strike into the back of the Bengal net.
Two minutes later and it was 3 - 0 to the Lilywhites, Dane Luchford receiving the ball in space on the left of the penalty area, Luchford having enough time to pick his spot as he fired home past Ali to bring the first half to a close.
The interval failed to break the flow of the game and five minutes into the second period Faversham Town extended their lead, Luchford's run to the byline resulting in a well placed cross into the six-yard area. The Bengal defence should have cleared the ball but as two defenders hesitated Steve O'Brien seized the moment and fired home from close range for goal number four.
Goal number five came on 55 minutes as Roy Guiver rose to connect with an Abel corner, heading the ball into the top right corner.
Man of the Match Hamshare should have made it six shortly after, the Town number 7's well struck shot denied by the acrobatic Ali.
Luchford and O'Brien made way for Sean Hetterley and Mike McKenna on 57 and 60 minutes respectively as the home side continued to push forward with Abel going very close on 61 minutes, a well placed chipped ball going agonisingly wide of the goal.
With the Bengal side in disarray, Faversham Town looked capable of scoring every time they entered the visitor's half, most of the play being channelled towards Abel who was frustrated by a string of offside decisions - none of which were appealed for by the opposition's defence.
On 70 minutes a through ball from Abel found McKenna in space on the right, McKenna's well delivered cross was met by Hetterley at the near post, his first touch sending the ball inches past the upright.
With 15 minutes remaining manager Justin Luchford introduced Under 18's striker Liam Gould to the Salters Lane crowd making his debut for the first team as he came on to replace Tom Hickman.
With the result firmly beyond doubt the Lilywhites showed no signs of easing off, Abel added his second of the afternoon, rounding the keeper to slot the ball into an empty net on 80 minutes.
Five minutes later and substitute Hetterley added his name to the score sheet as he fired low and hard past Ali from the right hand edge of the area for goal number seven.
A free-kick to the home side was directed into the six-yard area and after some poor defending the ball fell to Hetterley who calmly tapped home at the far post.
Abel completed his hat-trick on 89 minutes as he connected with a cross from Hetterley to net from close range before rounding off the afternoon with his fourth goal seconds before referee Fraser called time.
A crowd of 84 left Salters Lane with smiles on their faces as did Manager Luchford and his team as they notched up their third consecutive victory, a solid and controlled team performance although Tuesday’s trip to third-placed Hythe Town provides the real test.
Faversham Town: Kevin Readings, Jamie Sparks, Chris Eather, Tom Hickman (Liam Gould 75), Ashley Brown, Roy Guiver, Shane Hamshare, Damian Abel, Dane Luchford (Sean Hetterley 57), Dane Soutan, Steve O’Brien (Mike McKenna 60).
Subs: Carl Hodgson, Ray Turner.
TILBURY 1-1 THAMESMEAD TOWN
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 15th November 2008
Kevin White reports from Chadfields
AFTER leading for much of the game, Thamesmead left Tilbury with just a point after conceding a late goal in this entertaining encounter.
Mead started very well and were justly in the lead on 24 minutes after Pedro Knight headed home the opening goal of the afternoon, with his leap at the far post.
Denying the home side any meaningful opportunities in the first half, Tilbury came out for the second half looking to make amends and pressured Mead with constant attacking.
Once again, the Mead defence were resolute but only up until the 86th minute when Rashid Camera’s fantastic solo effort gained the equaliser.
With the points shared, Mead’s attention now turns to the home Kent Senior Cup tie on Wednesday night, where they face Ryman League Division One South side Ashford Town.
Thamesmead Town: Kessell, Merridan, Collins, Brown, Watts, Tarrant, Mulholland, Knight, Dimmock, Cable, Smith.
Subs: Moore, Thomas, Wood
HERNE BAY 3-2 ERITH & BELVEDERE
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 15th November 2008
Thomas Hawes reports from Winch’s Field
ERITH & BELVEDERE’S seven match unbeaten league run came to an end as they lost 3-2 to Herne Bay in a game delayed by 25 minutes following an ankle injury to Bay’s centre-back Will Graham.
On a bobbly pitch and with their opponents closing them down quickly, the Deres couldn’t play the free flowing football which has seen them pick up 19 points from their opening nine Kent Premier League fixtures.
Herne Bay, who were also on 19 points coming into the game, were the better side in the opening stages of the match.
Deres striker Nick Smith returned from injury to deputise on the left-wing whilst the in-form front pairing of Aiden Pursglove and Sam Prett retained their places up front.
Smith came closest for the Deres as, on 16 minutes he collected Deres keeper Matt Bromby’s throw. Smith reached the edge of the 18-yard box before shooting a yard wide of Dan Eason’s left-hand post.
Herne Bay though came out of the blocks fastest and edged ahead on 23 minutes. A break down the left resulted in a low cross into the box. The Deres defence could only clear the ball to Simon Brown, who steered Herne Bay into a 1-0 lead.
Bay could have went 2-0 up on 27 minutes, when Deres keeper Bromby lost possession 20 yards out. Bromby re-gathered himself to prevent Brown from scoring his second, but he could only parry the ball to a Bay midfielder 25 yards out. With a host of Erith bodies back on the goal-line, the shot was blasted over.
The hosts were left ruing not doubling their advantage as the Deres capitalised on their first corner-kick of the match. Ryan Robinson played a short corner-kick to the unmarked Smith, who fired a cross-come-shot into the penalty area.
The referee adjudged that the ball was handled en route to the far post and the Deres were awarded a penalty.
Pursglove has had plenty of practice from the spot so far this year and his practice paid off as he sent Eason the wrong way to level the match.
On 37 minutes, Smith embarked on another of his mazy runs. This time, however, Smith lost control of the ball and his outstretched leg caught the ankle of Bay defender Will Graham as he attempted to clear the ball out for a throw-in.
Following the incident, Graham was left on the ground and, after a 25 minute delay, was taken to hospital with suspected ankle ligament damage. Smith escaped with a yellow card.
The remaining eight minutes of the first half were played out following the delay, Deres wing-back Robinson’s 20 yard effort the closest either side came.
The hosts came out of the blocks fastest in the second half and regained the lead just a minute into the second period. The tricky Brown cut in from the left, jinked his way past a couple of Deres defenders before firing past a helpless Bromby.
The lead was to be short-lived though as the Deres equalised on 52 minutes. In a carbon-copy of Bay’s second goal, Smith drove towards goal before sublimely finishing past Eason to mark his return to the first-team with a goal.
The Deres pushed to take the lead in what proved to be their best period of the game. The visitors efforts came to no avail though as Bay went ahead on 70 minutes.
A through ball took a couple of ricochets before landing at the feet of Luke Harvey who then had the simplest of tasks to put his side ahead.
The Deres pushed for an equaliser again, and would have had one with just five minutes left had the linesman on the far side not spotted an infringement.
Left-winger Robbie Bryant replaced Prett, meaning that Smith moved up front to partner Pursglove. The switch appeared to be an inspired one, when Deres midfielder Huseyin Budak played a ball over the top of the Bay defence for Bryant to run onto. Bryant drove towards the by-line before playing the ball across the penalty area. Smith got in front of the Bay defender and diverted the ball into the back of the net.
The linesman on the far side, however, raised his flag presumably for Smith being in an offside position when Bryant’s cross was played.
John Farley went close with a 20-yard pile-driver in the 90th minute, but Bay held on to win and retain fourth place in the Kent Premier League. The Deres, however, drop to 6th place, albeit with plenty of games in hand over the five teams above them.
Nevertheless, there is no use in having games in hand if you don’t convert them to points and the Deres have an opportunity to get back to winning ways when Greenwich Borough visit Park View Road on Friday evening.
Erith & Belvedere: Bromby, Bedford, Robinson (Farley 75), Radbourne, Adcock, Hill, Thorogood (Crawley 75), Budak, Pursglove, Prett (Bryant 80), Smith.
Subs: Williams, Penny.
Attendance 140
KINGSTONIAN 1-1 FOLKESTONE INVICTA
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 15th November 2008
Richard Murrill reports from Kingsmeadow
FOLKESTONE INVICTA gained a morale-boosting point away to league leaders Kingstonian on Saturday afternoon in front of a 323 crowd.
Captain James Dryden had given Invicta the lead just before half time, but the Ks equalised early in the second half.
This was arguably Invicta’s biggest away fixture of the season against the former Conference club and FA Trophy holders who groundshare the Kingsmeadow Stadium with AFC Wimbledon.
And the young Folkestone side passed the test with admirable colours on what could have been a torrid afternoon for them against the division’s highest goalscorers who had scored six in midweek and four the previous Saturday.
James Everitt, at 21, was the oldest of Invicta’s back five as the visitors showed character to bounce back from the previous weekend’s 2-0 home defeat against lowly Crowborough Athletic.
In a day of big scores in the Ryman League Division One South, Crowborough were themselves beaten 7-0 at home to third-placed Dulwich Hamlet and fourth-placed Cray Wanderers won 8-2 at Corinthian-Casuals.
Invicta made one change as Josh Vincent came into the starting line up in place of Kieran Byrne.
Kingstonian made the early running as Liam Collins took the ball off Micheal Everitt and ran on as early as the second minute and shot over the crossbar.
Jamie Beer then shot over the crossbar inside the penalty area in the 12th minute after a move involving Carl Wilson-Denis and Dean Lodge.
But Invicta had a good chance on the quarter of an hour mark when Dryden headed wide from an inviting Liam Friend cross on the left.
One of the game’s big talking points came in the 26th minute when referee Alex Neil appeared to have given the home side what would have been a harsh penalty decision for a challenge on Beer. But the referee then appeared to have changed his mind on the advice of one of his assistants and instead gave Invicta a free kick.
That was much to the fury of the home bench which included coach Martin Tyler, of television fame.
And Invicta might have rubbed salts in Kingstonian’s wounds a minute later when James Corbett shot over when a Vincent nod on threatened to put Dryden through.
Left back Josh Burchell then forced the first corner of the game when home goalkeeper and captain Luke Garrard touched his cross-shot over the crossbar after Corbett played the ball out wide.
Centre half Frankie Chappell headed wide Jimmy Jackson’s subsequent free kick from the right hand side.
At the other end, James Everitt charged down a 39th minute shot from Lodge as Kingstonian won their first corner of the game.
Invicta were to go ahead in the 45th minute when Dryden’s mis-kicked effort deflected off defender Nick Rundell after a deep cross from Burchell on the left.
Dryden had scored four goals in Invicta’s previous away fixture at Kingstonian in a 5-1 win on the final day of the 2004-05 season the season which Kingstonian were relegated from the Ryman Premier League.
Kingstonian started the second half strongly as Rundell’s 50th minute free kick on the right was headed at visiting goalkeeper Charlie Mitten by Simon Huckle.
And it was 1-1 in the 52nd minute when Lodge shot into the roof of the net when Wilson-Denis nodded the ball on and striking partner Bobby Traynor played the ball through.
A 57th minute header from the division’s leading goalscorer Traynor then lacked power when Lodge played a good ball in from the right after Collins played the ball out wide.
Dryden shot over on the turn from the right hand side of the penalty for Invicta a minute later.
But Invicta were under pressure midway through the second half as the home side sought a second goal.
Invicta defender Liam Dickson got across to head the ball out for a corner when the ball was dropping to Wilson-Denis close to goal.
The home side then had two clear chances in as many minutes.
First Chappell made an amazing goal line clearance when Traynor went round goalkeeper Mitten in the 67th minute and seemed set to score after getting to substitute Tommy Williams’ bal in before Friend.
And then the dangerous Lodge shot over when a Wilson-Denis ball put him racing in on goal down the left hand side.
But Invicta weathered the storm and had a chance of their own as Vincent was pushed further forward and his 77th minute shot was palmed out by goalkeeper Garrard, with right back Jon Coke getting in before Corbett to clear the rebound for a corner.
Corbett then shot over in the 80th minute when the ball dropped to him inside the penalty area as Invicta edged nearer to a positive result.
The talismanic Dryden even helped out as an emergency centre half for a couple of minutes when Dickson had to leave the field for treatment following a clash with Wilson-Denis.
Kingstonian’s Huckle was the game’s only booking for a 75th minute challenge on James Everitt.
This was Invicta’s third successive away draw and as with the previous trip to Godalming felt very much like a point gained.
Kingstonian: Garrard, Coke (Finnie 80), Rundell, Thompson, Hustwick, Huckle, Beer (Williams 65), Collins, Traynor, Wilson-Denis (Neal 82), Lodge.
Subs: Lampton, Naughton.
Folkestone Invicta: Mitten, J. Everitt, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Dickson, M. Everitt, Corbett (Byrne 89), Dryden, Vincent, Jackson.
Subs: Thomas, Towse, Lindsey, Dix.
Attendance: 323.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd