Faversham are through to the next round of the F.A.Cup and with it a cheque for £1925 but what a scare Epsom gave them.

Epsom of the Combined Counties league, one division below Faversham did not have a lot of possession but defended well and had some luck along the way whilst Faversham wasted chances to wrap the game up.

Faversham started off quickly as in the 2^nd minute Charlie Robertson running from halfway passed out wide to Josh Stanford who’s first time shot whistled past the far post. Two minutes later Tom Neale on the right had Epsom’s first chance when from 15 yards his shot was saved by Will Godmon.

In the 12^th minute a free kick routine from the training ground saw Stanford slide the ball into the path of Ryan Cooper in the area & his cross shot was saved by Alistair Turpie. Epsom took the lead in the 14^th minute in bizarre fashion as a corner from the right was floated in under the crossbar forcing Godmon to save but he dropped it & Neale stabbed home, most of the crowd went silent in disbelief. Up to half time Faversham controlled possession & had a few chances to equalise, in the 21^st minute Liam King was put clear in the area but his shot went wide of the post, then three minutes later Stanford received the ball in the area & his goal bound shot was deflected for a corner.

Two minutes later a corner into the near post saw King’s flashing header go wide then in the 29^th minute Stanford’s free kick found Kieron Campbell & from 20 yards his shot was saved. Three minutes later the score should have been level when another Stanford free kick into the back post found John Scarborough 6 yards out on his own but his header went wide of the far post when it seemed easier to at least hit the target.

In the last minute of the half another Stanford free kick floated into the area avoided everyone & went out for a goal kick. Half time arrived & Ray Turner had a job on to keep his team in the cup whilst Glyn Mandeville would have been delighted with his team & would want another 45 minute like the first.

The second half was only 3 minutes old when Epsom had a chance to increase their lead when Sava Panayiotou running forward passed into the path of Matt Ferdinando whose shot from 25 yards whistled over the bar. In the 54^th minute Stanford running towards goal let loose from 25 yards but Turpie saved it.

Four minutes later Cooper was put through & his shot from an angle was deflected for a corner. After all these chances Faversham finally broke their duck in the 65^th minute when that man Stanford was fouled on the edge of the area & he picked himself up & curled it into the top left hand corner, eleven minutes later they were in front when Renford Tenyue was put clear on the right & his cross to the back post found Campbell who from 10 yards shot home.

In the very next minute Epsom nearly equalised when Robert Hendry in the area saw his shot pushed around the post by Godmon. This would be the last time that Epsom would trouble Faversham, but they would still have chances to increase their lead, in the 80^th minute Stanford put Tenyue in the area & his first time shot was deflected for a corner then three minutes later Dean Grant muscled his way forward from halfway before laying the ball into the path of Stanford & his shot from 20 yards whistled past the post.

The final whistle went & there was relief around the ground that Faversham had finally beaten their stubborn opponents & look forward to draw on Monday.

Faversham Town:

Godmon , Cooper, Tenyue, Carrington , Scarborough, Dawodu (Bourne, 74), Robertson,  Campbell, Grant, King (Ratcliffe, 74), Stanford

Subs not used: Cheek, Wells, Sheridan

Bookings: Cooper (53), Grant (56)

Epsom & Ewell:

Turpie, North, Tanton (McKay, 78), Hastings, Taylor, Robinson, Hendry, Farrell, Neale (Panayiotou, 33) , Cooper-Smith , Ferdinado (Heagney, 67)

Subs not used:  Eacott, Gallagher

Bookings:  Robinson (56), Turpie (89)

Referee: R.King

Assistants: G.Hague  & L.Chapman

Attendance: 155