Faversham Town started their new era well but it ended up with defeat while Littlehampton Town carried on their momentum of winning more than they lose.
Littlehampton arrived at Salters lane for their debut in the Isthmian League & started well pushing Faversham back & in the 14 th minute a corner into the middle of the area saw George Easkin’s header tipped over the bar by Leighton Fanshawe.
In the 18th minute against the run of play Faversham scored when a long ball into the channel saw Nathan Wood run on to it beating the defender & going into the area where from 10 yards he slotted the ball past Kieron Thorp.
What a start for Embery & Darlington in their first game in charge in the league. It did not take Littlehampton long to equalise when in the 22nd minute Josh Short on the right wing passed inside for Scott Packer & his flicked pass was handled in the area & a penalty was given, up stepped Jordan Leighton & smashed it into top right hand corner.
The game ebbed & flowed for a while & then in the 36th minute Sharn Quinn saw his 25 yard free kick saved & then two minutes later Littlehampton took the lead when Aaron Capon on half way received the ball & raced down the wing beating substitute Danny
Devine & then went into the area & slotted the ball past Fanshawe. Faversham nearly equalised in the 44th minute when Issa Mpenga running towards goal put James O’Halloran in & from 15 yards he shot into the sidenetting.
Littlehampton came out for the second half determined to win & in the 50th minute a ball into the area fell at Packer’s feet but his shot from 15 yards was saved by Fanshawe. Five minutes later Bradley Schafer twisting & turning saw his shot from 20 yards fumbled by Thorp for a corner.
In the 60th minute Littlehampton increased their lead when a corner to the near post was half cleared but came to Marshall Ball who volleyed in from 6 yards.
Faversham were now chasing the game & in the heat that would prove too much. In the 70th minute a corner to the back post found Matt Bourne & his goalbound header was pushed away by Thorp.
Ten minutes later a ball forward was flicked on for Schafer but his shot hit the side netting. Thorp came to the rescue in the 85th minute when a ball into Connor Cox saw his volleyed shot saved then in the very next minute Faversham got a sniff of a chance of drawing when a ball into the area seemed to be handled & a penalty was given, up stepped Schafer & blasted it into the top right hand corner.
The last few minutes saw Faversham throw everything at Littlehampton to get an equaliser but after 4 minutes of added on time the referee blew for full time sending the players & supporters into raptures while Embery & Darlington will try on Tuesday night at Chatham.
FAVERSHAM TOWN:
L.FANSHAWE 2. D.RUMBOL (37) 3. T.COONEY 4. S.QUINN 5. M.BOURNE 6. J.O’HALLORAN 7. C.WILKINS 8. O.OLUFEMI APANAKU (69) 9. I.MPENGA (56) 10. B.SCHAFER 11. N.WOOD
SUBS USED: 15. D.DEVINE (37) 12. C.COX (56) 17. T.BANCROFT (69)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. H.COLLINS 16. K.MASINDO
BOOKINGS: 5@ M.BOURNE (82)
LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN:
K.THORPE 2. S.WIGGANS (77) 3. S.PACKER 4. S.FABER 5. L.HENDY 6. M.BALL 7. L.PATTONDEN 8. J.LAYTON (75) 9. G.EASKIN 10. J.SHORT 11. A.CAPON (45)
SUBS USED: 12. Z.MORRIS (45) 17. A.HAWKES (75) 14. T.ROMILLA (77)
SUBS NOT USED: 15. J.CARROLL 16. W.BERRY
BOOKINGS: 12. Z.MORRIS (88)
REFEREE: Mr E.SMITH
ASSISTANTS: Mr. R.ALBERT & Mr B.HORNE
ATTENDANCDE: 212