Faversham Strike Force suffered Friday night heartbreak in the Isuzu FA Trophy as high-flying Haywards Heath Town from the Southern Combination Football League netted two late goals to down the home sides dreams of an upset. 

Alex Wells had deservedly given Faversham the lead at the break and having survived wave after wave of yellow and blue attacks with keeper Harry Earls and his defence in outstanding form, a horrible deflection gave the visitors hope just as it seemed to be disappearing and with their next attack, sub-Rob Clark had sent the Sussex side through to the next round ironically just minutes before missed a golden chance for the crucial second goal. 

The home side, remember playing a level below their visitors, started well and only a brilliant save from keeper Mitch Bromage denied Faversham the early lead – Tom Carter’s delightful ball into the box was knocked back across goal for Tom Barton to thump a header goalwards only for Bromage to make a magnificent save. Jack Sayer then flashed a header just past the post from a long Faversham throw before the visitors had their best chances of the half. 

Earls made a fabulous block to keep out the lively Kiarn Asafu-Adjaye and Faris Khalouqi did well on the edge of the box before firing a yard wide.  

Seven minutes before the break, the home side struck – another Carter free-kick saw a powerful downward header magnificently saved by Bromage, but Willis reacted quicker than anyone else to scramble the Strike Force into the lead. 

The home side started brightly after the break with Barton being well denied by a last gasp defender as Carter played him through, but the home side were to be pushed further and further back as the visitors chased the game. 

Quite how Adjaye did not equalise is mind blowing! Lewis Finney came increasingly into the game down the visitors left – he battled to the line before playing the ball across the face of goal. Somehow the ball ran to Adjaye at the back post, and the visitors number seven seemed surprised to have the ball at his feet four yards out and was incredibly denied by a diving spreading Earls to somehow keep the ball out. 

Byron Napper’s shot was next to be denied with a fine save before came the home side’s chance that could have sealed the game as a long ball was played forward and the Faversham man found himself clean through but could take the chance. It seemed to inspire and give Haywards Heath hope that seemed to be ebbing away, but their equaliser eleven minutes from time owed an awful lot to luck as Adjaye’s shot clipped off a defender and somehow found its way through a tiny gap at the keepers left post with Earls totally wrong-footed. 

Two minutes later the dispirited home fans were to be heartbroken. A ball from the right was hammered goalwards by Napper and as the ball ran free Clark broke Faversham hearts and edged the Sussex side into Monday’s hat. 

Full credit to Faversham as they still tried to find a way back into the game and so nearly did as late on Dan Lott’s lofted free kick into the box was punched down and into the area by Bromage, but the keeper was relieved to see a yellow shirt blast the ball away as the Strike Force’s dreams went with it. 

FAVERSHAM STRIKER FORCE – Earls, Smith (Harry Taylor), McCormack, Sayer (Landau), Wren, Alexander, Kane Taylor (Riches), Carter (Lott), Wells, O’Donnell (Wratten), Barton 

HAYWARDS HEATH TOWN – Bromage, Blencowe, Cadman, Plummer, Gilbert, Meeres, Adajaye, Napper, Khallouqi, Benson (Clark), Finney 

Subs – Wood, Barker, Rhodes