Faversham defeated local rivals Ashford United 2-1 in this entertaining pre season friendly played in blazing hot sunshine where the mercury hit 35 degrees Celsius moments before kick off at The Shepherd Neame Stadium.

After a cagey opening ten minutes the hosts created the first real opening of the match. A marauding run by left back Jamie Maxted saw him into the left side of the penalty area. His low drive towards goal was parried by visiting ‘keeper Joe Mart with the defence scrambling the loose ball clear before striker Dean Grant could pounce.

After quarter of an hour’s play a well delivered corner by Faversham Captain Wayne Wilson on the right was headed just over from close range after a great leap and towering header by Matt Bourne.

However, moments later it was the visitors who took the lead – After a poor defensive header by Aiden Sherlock across the edge of his own penalty area, Gary Mickleborough delivered a low from the right finding Andy Irvine who scored with the simplest of finishes from close range.

Just before the half hour the hosts levelled the game. A long, diagonal ball from left to right by Wilson found Sam Bewick on the right edge of the penalty area whose lofted ball to the near post was put away with a stooping header from close range by Renford Tenyue.

Just after the half hour the busy Tenyue got onto the end of a flick on by Darren Marsden only to see his scuffed effort drift wide of Mart’s right hand post.

With just over five minutes to half time Faversham were unlucky not to take the lead – Firstly Tenyue got onto the end of a low left sided cross by the earlier scorer Maxted but his weakly struck shot was deflected wide for a corner.

From the resulting corner David Botterill rose well at the back post but his goal-bound header struck the back of Gary Clark on the goal line and a second corner in quick succession saw Bewick strike well from the left corner of the penalty area but his shot was always on the rise and it flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

The hosts’ Grant then got onto the end of a low cross on the left by Botterill but the shot again went harmlessly over.

Within five minutes of the second half kicking off the crowd saw a moment of madness and ill temper flaring up between Faversham’s Maxted and Ashford’s Mickleborough. After squaring up and pushing one another around the visitors boss Paul Chambers elected to take off the no’ 10 who reacted angrily by kicking out at an innocent water-bottle, sadly not epitomising the essence of a ‘friendly’.

Shortly before the hour mark Ashford’s Scott Bradley chased after a lofted ball behind the hosts back line but in managing to lift the ball over the advancing Simon Overland, could not keep the ball down as it sailed high and wide of goal.

Soon after a double change by the hosts the two subs Kieran Oliver and Harry Priddle linked up well resulting in Botterill lofting the ball goal bound from the edge of the penalty area but unable to keep the ball down.

Botterill then found room in the penalty area only to steer his header over the bar.

With fifteen minutes remaining Ashford’s Irvine worked well on the edge of the area but his scooped shot on the turn went high and over the bar.

From the resulting attack Faversham took the lead and with it the decisive and winning goal of the game with substitute Liam Stone finding the back of the net after good work on the left side of the penalty area.

 

Faversham Town:Overland, Sherlock, Maxted, Botterill (Stone, 70), Bourne, Miller, Marsden, Wilson © (Priddle, 62), Tenyue, Grant, Bewick (Oliver, 62)

Subs not used: Rogers, McCallum, French

Goals: Tenyue 28, Stone 76

Ashford United: Mart, Cuthbert, Lenoid (n/k, 87), Harris (Bailey, 77), Walsh, Kingwell, Clark ©, Moony (Stow (Blackman, 85)), Irvine, Mickleborough (Bradley, 52), 17 Phillips

Goal: Irvine 18

Referee: Mr D Smart

Assistants: Mr Z Kankoly and Mr V Akewai