Stefan Payne was the hattrick hero for Faversham Town as they moved top of the SCEFL Premier Division, with their fifth win in a row.

In that run they have scored 19 goals, although Punjab United will feel that they should have picked up a point having pushed Faversham all the way.  

The game started with a bang when Faversham’s Payne scored after 17 seconds, the ball was played forward, and Payne saw Rilwan Anibaba off his line and lobbed him.

In the fourth minute they doubled their lead when a long ball forward saw Payne outmuscle his marker turned and shot home from twenty yards. 

After this bad start Punjab got back into the game but lacked the final ball, in the 22^nd minute in a breakaway Faversham nearly scored a third when Warren Mfula challenged Chris Edwards who got to the ball first but lobbed Anababa but luckily for him Wayne Bushell came round and cleared his effort.

In the 29^th minute Punjab had their first shot in anger when Edwards 20 yards out saw his shot go wide then eight minutes later Faversham could and maybe should have increased their lead when  Mfula on the edge of the area running into the area saw Billy Bennett take the ball of him but from 15 yards he blazed his shot over the bar.

In the 42^nd minute another half chance came when Ashley Miller chased down a back pass to Anibaba, his clearance ricocheted off Miller and went into the side netting.

Punjab got a goal they thoroughly deserved in the 44^th minute when Youssouff Bamba on the right wing received the ball, ran forward into the area and from 15 yards saw his shot hit the net despite Taite Holtam getting a hand to it but in scoring under pressure got injured and had to be stretched off with what was later disclosed as a dislocated Knee.

The second half saw Punjab taking the game to Faversham and in the 46^th minute Andrew Dyne saw his 20 yard effort go just past the post.

In the 55^th minute Dyne on the left saw his deep cross the back post fall at Paul Vines feet and his snapshot went just wide. Eleven minutes later a corner to the back post saw Lea Dawson rise unopposed head goal wards but Holtam saved.

Punjab were now knocking on the door to get the equaliser while Faversham relied on breakaways. In the 79^th minute a long ball forward to Vines who turned and saw his lob go just over the bar.

Three minutes later Arun Suman saw his 20 yard curling effort go just past the post. In the 86^th minute against the run of play Faversham scored when Kieron Campbell on the left wing went into the area and was fouled, a penalty was given, up stepped Payne who shot into the left side of the goal to complete his hat trick.

The final whistle went and the three points went Faversham’s way which in football parlance shows a good side wins ugly at times while Punjab will go back to Gravesend disappointed that they did not come away with any points

        Faversham Town:

1. T.Holtam (Debut )    2. J.Vincent    13. M.Newman  6. O.Gray  7. A.Miller  23. S.Hasler

19.   B.Bingham     26. M.Parsons (13)  45. S.Payne (90+2)  10. B.Bennett (71)  24. W.Mfula (75)

Subs Used: 11. K.Campbell (13)  8. E.Kurti (71)  20. J.Aibangbee (75) 16. J.Piper (90+2)

Subs Not Used:  21. L.Briggs

Bookings: None

       Punjab United:

1.    R.Anibaba      2. C.Edwards  3. A.Dyne  4. W.Bushell  5. S Ratcliff  6. J.Campbell  17. Y.Bamba )45+7)

8.       L.Dawson   7. M.Azaiya  10 A.Bloomfield (62)  11. C.Nyadayo (62)

Subs Used:  9. P.Vines (45+7)  12. H.Scudder (62)  15. A.Suman (62)

Subs Not Used:  14. E.London  16. De Niro Pinto

Bookings: C.Sian (Manager 86)

Referee: Mr N.Bone

Assistants: Mr M.Marsh  & Mr C.Ozbiloglu

Att: 324

Image courtesy of Faversham Town