Faversham Town booked their place in the Ryman League Division One South play-off Final with a comfortable win over Hythe Town.

This was the third game these sides had played against each other with Faversham on top with a win & a draw but Play Offs can be a different game & with a big crowd in both sides started off nervy.

The first real chance of the game came in the 6^th minute when a ball into the Faversham area was half cleared to Jake Hobbs but from 8 yards he miscued his shot.

Faversham’s first chance came in the 13^th minute when Luke Harvey & Wayne Wilson combined & then the ball went out to Dave Botterill but his shot was deflected for a corner.

In the 25^th minute Simon Overland took a free kick & it sailed over the edge of the area where Botterill was but his header from 18 yards went wide. Two minutes later Pat Kingwell on halfway passed out to Hobbs who from the right wing crossed into the area for Brendon Cass whose header from 8 yards was superbly pushed over the bar by Overland.

The game seemed to be flat but then in the 34^th minute Aaron Lacey’s long throw into the area was only half cleared to Matt Bourne who from 10 yards shot home, then in the very next minute it was two when another Lacey long throw to the back post found Bourne on his own & from 2 yards stabbed home.

Four minutes later & it was three as a ball into Harvey who controlled it & then passed into area for Renford Tenyue who controlled it & then shot home from 10 yards.

Half time arrived with Faversham in total control & with Ray Turner having the easier half time talk & Scott Porter having to lift his team up for the challenge.

The second half started with Faversham letting Hythe have the majority of possession& relying on catching them on the break.

In the 63^rd minute Hythe had a glorious chance to cut the arrears when Hobbs on the right got to the by-line by the corner flag & his cross was met by Craig Thompson but he headed over the bar whilst on his own.

Another chance came three minute later when Kieran Byrne on the left crossed to the backpost for Cass but his shot went wide & then in the 78^th minute Ronnie Dolan 35 yards out tried his luck but Overland easily saved it.

Faversham’s defence were outstanding as the nullified most attacks from Hythe & then to rub salt into the wound Scott Porter was sent off with two minutes left for kicking the ball away.

The final whistle went & the Faversham players & Fans went wild & now they go to the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday to face Maidstone who they beat there only 4 weeks ago.

Faversham Town:

1. S.OVERLAND  2. A.LACEY  3. A.BROWN (66) 4. T.ASHMORE 5. M.BOURNE 6. J.PEACOCK  7. D.MARSDEN  8. W.WILSON   9. R.TENYUE (78)  10. L.HARVEY (78)

11. D.BOTTERILL

SUBS:  12. A.SHERLOCK  14. K.OLIVER (78)  15. J.MAXTED (66)  16. D.LAWRENCE

17. D.HOCKTON (78)

BOOKED:  L.HARVEY

HYTHE TOWN:

1. D.EASON   2. G.SAVAGE (65)  3. J.WALKER  4. P.KINGWELL  5. C.CLOKE  6. R.DOLAN

7. D.COOK   8. C.THOMPSON (78)  9. J.HOBBS  10. B.CASS  11.M.YIANNI (58)

SUBS: 12. K.BYRNE (58)  14. J.COLADO (65)   15. L.COBURN (78) 16. A.PORTER

17. T.ELLIOTT

BOOKED: G.SAVAGE, P.KINGWELL & B.CASS

OFFICIALS: REFEREE MR.M.SMITH

ASSISTANT REFEREES MR R. WHITTAKER & MR R.POPE

MAN OF THE MATCH : Matt Bourne

ATTENDANCE: 606