Faversham Town’s search for an elusive win in the FA Trophy goes on.
The last time the Lilywhites won a Trophy tie, David Cameron was Prime Minister of a coalition government and “Brexit” was a word that wasn’t no-one had heard of. Roy Hodgson was still England national boss and the national team had just crashed out of the Brazil World Cup at the group stage!
A 4-0 win at Beaconsfield SYCOB in the preliminary round of 2014/15 is still the last time that Faversham enjoyed an FA Trophy win – a record that sadly is going to be stretched to another season as the reigning FA Vase holders Chertsey Town over powered the 2019 Lilywhite’s young vintage to progress to a tie with Marlow in the next round.
For the Faversham managerial duo of Danny Chapman and Phil Miles, these ninety minutes asked more questions of their young side as the visitors showed their experience with six of their starting eleven having played against Cray Valley in May’s Wembley Final – and to be fair, it showed!
Even early on, Chertsey’s experience began to show through, and they were in front first ten minutes when Sam Murphy stole in behind the home defence and coolly lifted the ball high over stranded keeper Luke Watkins and into the Faversham net. Murphy then almost doubled the lead ten minutes later as he cut in from the other flank and curled a shot around Watkins, but it curled the wrong side of the post.
The home side finally got a shot in just past the halfway mark in the half, but Donvieve Jones’ shot flew high and wide. Then almost out of the blue, Faversham equalised with a wonder goal! Max Morgan did well to dispossess the Chertsey defence and he played a great ball into the path of James Miles, and the young midfielder didn’t break stride as he magnificently drilled the ball beyond the reach of keeper Lewis Gallifent and Faversham were level.
Its just a shame that they couldn’t stay focused until the break as within minutes, Chertsey had the lead back as Jonathan Hippolyte raced clear down the inside left channel and as Watkins came out, the Chertsey winger rolled the ball past the hopelessly exposed keeper and the visitors had reclaimed their lead.
Chertsey began the second half in almost total command as the home youngsters struggled to get back into the game. Casey McLaren stung Watkins’ palms, and home skipper Matt Bourne almost doubled Chertsey’s lead as he diverted the ball just past the post after a smart corner routine from the visitors.
The game was as good as over on 73 minutes. Lubomir Guentchev drove the ball across the face of the Faversham goal and Qunicey Rowe was on hand to bundle the ball home to seal the home side’s fate. And it could have been even worse for Faversham as late on Watkins pulled off a stunning save to deny Murphy his second before Guentchev was denied by the width of the home side’s crossbar with Watkins for once beaten.
Faversham’s wait for a Trophy win goes on as does the steep learning curve for Miles and Chapman’s young side!
FAVERSHAM TOWN – Watkins, Mills, Maxted, Miles, Bourne, Dorling, Freiter (Lawrence), Chapman, Morgan (Onu), Adesite (Barton), Jones
Subs – Dwane-Holden, Earls
CHERTSEY TOWN – Gallifent, Yala, Welch-Turner, MacLaren (Sheehan-Cozens), Peacock, Rowe, Guentchev, Day, Baxter (Driver), Murphy, Hippolyte (Crossley)
Subs – Jackson, Dadey, Taylor
Referee – Mr Brock
Assistants – Mr Joseph & Mr Woodman