Faversham Town showed resilience, character and bouncebackability from their weekend FA Cup exit and being a goal down with three late goals in quick succession to take maximum points at lowly East Grinstead Town on Tuesday night.

The form guide and league table suggested an easy outing for the visitors but their so far indifferent away form and the hosts’ determination meant the result and winning margin skewed the real story of the game.

During an opening quarter of an hour with both sides looking to grasp control it was the high-flying visitors who created the first opening – Josh Stanford shooting over from close range after good work by Wayne Wilson on the right touchline.

The visitors were forced to weather a period of pressure with the hosts’ Kieron Pamment’s probing crosses teasing Faversham’s well drilled back line led by Captain John Scarborough.

Moments after the quarter hour mark the visitors tested their hosts – Wilson’s 20yd free kick was deflected wide, leading to a trio of corner-kicks – The hosts passing the test with Faversham unable to break the deadlock despite efforts by David Botterill, Scarborough and Jamie Maxted.

Five minutes before half time the hosts pressurised their visitors. Good work by Layton Schaff led to a long range effort by Dan Turner blocked by the defensive line. The loose ball fell back to the feet of Schaff whose first time effort was well saved by Simon Overland, but little did the ‘keeper know the linesman had raised his flag for offside.

On the stroke of half time Faversham almost broke the deadlock. A high inswinging and harmless looking free kick from the left touchline by Wilson found Scarborough who beat his man to the ball but could not direct it on goal as it fell wide of the hosts’ right hand post.

Luke Harvey then found space inside the six yard box but could only steer his header harmlessly over.

The hosts came out for the second half with great purpose and endeavour belying their league position.  The dangerous Pamment again causing Faversham problems getting past his man on the right side but the visitors stayed resolute, clearing their lines as the hosts failed to find the crucial touch in front of goal.

Overland was soon called upon to rescue Faversham with an instinctive save from a close range header by Michael Belli.  Michael Death then shot just over from the edge of the penalty area after the visitors struggled to clear a long throw-in by full back Guy Harding.

On the hour Faversham almost took the lead – Kieran Oliver cut inside and shot narrowly wide of Mark Fox’s right hand post from the edge of the box.

Twenty minutes from time Overland was called into action in unusual circumstances – Harding over hitting a free kick from just inside the visitors half had the ‘keeper needing to be alert, tipping the ball over from just beneath the crossbar – And from the resulting corner the hosts’ pressure told as they took the lead the lead – Captain John Sinclair’s free header finding the back of the net.

With just over a quarter of an hour to play Faversham equalised – Substitute George Monger’s right footed curler finding the back of the net after striking the angle of bar and post.

With ten minutes to play the visitors turned the game on its head by taking the lead – Wilson tucking the loose ball away under the advancing ‘keeper.

Within two minutes the visitors scored again, extended their lead, as substitute Dean Grant found space inside the box, coolly slotting home low across the ‘keeper.

On the stroke of second half injury time Grant ran at goal from halfway but in approaching the area he could only blaze wide.

With four minutes of injury time signalled the game petered out with the visitors taking home a hard fought three points.

 

East Grinstead Town: Fox, Hampson (Djimah, 87), Harding, Sinclair ©, Cooney, Pelling, Pamment, Belli, Death (Secon-Smith, 78), Schaaf, Turner

Subs not used: Gerard, Welch, Christie

Goals: Sinclair (65)

Faversham Town: Overland, Sherlock, Maxted, Brown (Grant, 66), Bourne, Scarborough ©, Wilson, Botterill, Oliver, Harvey (Monger, 66), Stanford (Bewick, HT)

Subs not used: Tenyue, King

Goals: Monger (73), Wilson (80), Grant (82)

 

Referee: Graeme Ions

Assistants: Shaun Farrer and James Harding

Att: 94