Faversham are through to the next round of the F.A. Cup in dramatic fashion and in doing so avoided an upset but those watching will probably say the best team lost.
Eastbourne came out of the traps the quickest and in the 3rd minute nearly scored when a ball to the back post found Trevor McCreadie, from 8 yards his shot was saved by Luke Watkin’s leg.
Six minutes later Tom Vickers running forward from halfway saw his shot from 30 yards go just over the bar. Eastbourne were the better side and it seemed like they wanted it while Faversham were off the pace.
In the 20th minute Donvieve Jones on the right crossed into the penalty area for Harry Harding but stretching his header went wide a minute later an Eastbourne corner to the far post saw Alfie Headland’s header pushed around the post by Watkins.
Another chance came their way in the 23rd minute when another corner to the back post found Sam Cole but his header went over the bar from 10 yards.
In the 24th minute Faversham nearly scored against the run of play when a long ball forward saw Matty Astle try to head back to goalie Chris Winterton but it was short and Kelvin Ogboe latched onto it, went into the area and from 15 yards saw his shot saved by Winterton.
Then in the very next minute Eastbourne got the goal they deserved when a throw in into the area was met by Jack Shonk who shot home from 15 yards.
Eight minutes later and Faversham against the run of play equalised when a Lewis Chambers long throw into the area was allowed to bounce. Harding on the back post swivelled and shot home from 10 yards.
It’s funny how goals change games as Faversham suddenly were getting more chances. Two minutes later and a corner into the Eastbourne area ricocheted about, then Ogboe saw his snap shot go agonisingly past the post.
In the second minute of added on time Faversham thought they had taken the lead when Jones on a run forward passed out wide for Stephen Okoh, his low cross was deflected around the area before the ball was in the net but offside was given.
Half time 1-1
The second half started like the first with Eastbourne on top, in the 52nd minute Brad Pritchard latched onto a loose ball and from an acute angle fired his shot over the bar.
Then a minute later Vickers driving forward saw his chipped shot go over the bar. As the game went on both sides showed endeavour without really creating clear cut chances.
In the 66th minute the ball was given away, Vickers went into the area and saw his shot saved for a corner by Watkins. Then in the very next minute a corner into the area was half cleared, Nathan Crabb saw his snapshot go just past the post.
The rest of the game saw both sides cancelling each other out and the dreaded penalties were getting nearer.
The full time whistle went and now the worst way to lose a game arrived.
Full time 1-1
Penalties:
| Faversham Town | Eastbourne Town | |
| Harding Scored | Mccreadie Scored | 1-1 |
| Okoh Saved | Attwood Saved | 1-1 |
| Dos Santos Scored | Pritchard Scored | 2-2 |
| Ogboe Scored | Taggart Scored | 3-3 |
| Ibe Scored | Crabb Scored | 4-4 |
| Chambers Scored | Cole Scored | 5-5 |
| Lyoubi Scored | Johnson Saved | 6-5 |
FAVERSHAM TOWN:
- L.WATKINS 2. D.JONES 3. A.LYOUBI 4. C.WILLIAMS (64) 5. J.DENNY 6. L.CHAMBERS 7. S.OKOH
8. G.BROWN (58) 9. M.OLUWASEMO (66) 10. H.HARDING 11. K.OGBOE
SUBS USED: 18. L.DOS SANTOS (58) 12. A.IBE (64) 15. A.SPIRS (66)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. H.PONT 16. H.Mcmorrow 17. M.HAGEN GK. H.FIRTH
BOOKINGS: 6. L.CHAMBERS (1) 7. S.OKOH (90+3)
Eastbourne Town:
- C.Winterton 2. M.Astle 3. S.Cole 4. T.Vickers (71) 5. D.Rogers 6. A.Headland 7. J.Shonk (63)
8. S.Johnson 9. T.Mccreadsie 10. Z.Attwood 11. B.Pritchard
Subs Used: 16. N.Crabb (63) 15. G.Taggart (71)
Subs Not Used: 12. C.Barlow 14. D.Bulwell
Bookings: 11. B.Pritchard 4. T.Vickers (56)
Referee: Mr. P.Conn
Assistants: Ms N.Quayle & Mr J.Dann-Pye
Images courtesy of K.N Photography