Faversham Town eased into the last eight of the SCEFL Challenge Cup with a 4-1 win over Staplehurst Monarchs and claimed a place in the quarter finals at Snodland Town. 

But the first division Monarchs will feel a little aggrieved at the final result as until the final five minutes, the Lilywhites “only” led by a solitary goal with the home side edging in front after Dan Ashton had given Staplehurst a shock early lead.

Tashi-Jay Kwayie showed why he’s the Premier Division’s leading striker as he swept home Jared Thespaderne’s centre to level by half time and Ben Gorham then finally poked the home side ahead with eighteen minutes left. 

Then a wonder strike from Sam Hasler and a delightful lob from Johan Caney-Bryan gave the scoreline a slightly flattering look, but Tommy Warrilow and his men will care little! 

After their 4-1 reverse at VCD Athletic at the weekend, Faversham were looking for a quick start and instead they were behind inside seven minutes, as a long ball into the Faversham box wasn’t dealt with allowing Ashton to gloriously strike the ball beyond an exposed Archie Burford in the home goal. 

Rocked Faversham eventually got into their stride but their best effort in the opening twenty minutes was a free-kick from Danny Parish that was brilliantly beaten out by Monarchs keeper Steve Lawrence. 

That proved to be just a sighter as moments later, Kwayie swept home Trespaderne’s cross to put the home side level – even though Faversham were temporarily down to ten men as defender Matt Newman was off receiving treatment on a nose injury.  

Lawrence then pulled off another remarkable save as the home side stepped things up going into the break, to deny Parish as the keeper redeemed himself for an appalling clearance whilst Nathan Wood was allowed too much room from a Faversham corner only to curl an effort inches too high. The half ended with Kwayie again being denied by a brave Lawrence save. 

In the early stages of the second period, the home side allowed Staplehurst too much room out wide with Toby Sargent twice sending over ball that flashed across the Faversham goal. 

Lawrence then denied Kwayie again with a super block after the striker had been put through by Wood who seemed to have left the Monarchs defence in his wake. 

The home side finally edged in front with eighteen minutes left – Frannie Collin’s deep corner was nodded down by Newman for Gorham to prod home.

To their credit, the visitors went searching for an equaliser that would have forced a shoot-out – Ashton had a dipping volley land on the roof of the Faversham net, before Burford pulled off a really smart save to deny a charging Sargent. 

Kieron Campbell almost gave the home side breathing space shooting a yard wide after a super run before sub Hasler sealed the home side’s progress with an Exocet of a pile-drive that flew past a helpless Lawrence. 

And when Caney-Bryan was released almost straight from kick off, he coolly lobbed home Faversham’s fourth and that quarter final trip to Snodland Town next month was confirmed. 

FAVERSHAM TOWN – Burford, Ossai, Trespaderne (Hasler), Collin (Piper), Gorham, Newman, Wood (Draycott), Parish (Bennett), Caney-Bryan (Thompson), Kwayie, Campbell.

STAPLEHURST MONARCHS – Lawrence, Sargent, Delaney (Couzins), Hooper, Bray, Mingle, Hyslop, Watson (West), Adams, Elemantany (Beech), Ashton.

Sub not used – Cheek.

REFEREE – Mr. Kaczala