For the third time this season, Faversham hit five goals in a game, as the Lillywhites became the first Ryman League club to smash through the 100-goal barrier.
Leading scorer, Wayne Wilson, took his tally to 21 for the season with a penalty in each half, sandwiching goals from John Scarborough and Stuart King, with Jack Harris adding the fifth.
The first twenty minutes of the game were very open as both sides showed a positive intent. Carshalton’s passing game made early inroads into the Faversham defence, with Ricky Korboa going to ground in the third minute under Ashley Brown’s challenge, but Mr Butler waved away the appeals.
When Faversham attacked, Wayne Wilson was given too much time in the centre of midfield to pick out willing runners throughout the match. From the first Wilson ball, Jack Harris sent a threatening cross into the area, looking for Stuart King, only for Jack Eden to get a crucial touch to deflect the ball away. From the clearance Korboa was able to turn John Scarborough, but the experienced defender recovered to make the first of a number of timely clearances; although the assistant’s flag would have ruled out Korboa’s shot.
Jamie Maxted put a header on target that Eden was able to save comfortably as the home side slowly started to press higher up the pitch. On 24, Harris charged down Adriano Moraes’ attempted long ball. Charley Robertson nipped in as Owen Roberts hesitated, but instead of shooting, the on-loan winger tried to lay the ball into King’s path, but didn’t see Ricardo Panton coming round to effect the clearance.
In the 27th minute, Faversham took the lead through Wilson’s first penalty. Harris flicked Rob French’s long goalkick into the path of Robertson on the left. The winger drove into the area, and was being well shepherded by Roberts, until Jordan Higgs decided to slide in with an unnecessary challenge, bringing Robertson to the ground. Wilson stepped up confidently to fire the ball into the right side of the net.
The Carshalton defence was now struggling to cope with the direct running of Harris, King, Robertson and Josh Stanford. Robertson and King combined to put Harris in on goal, but Eden was out quickly to block the chance, while at the other end, Roberts had a free header deflected by Scarborough back to French, and Jordan Clarke beat Maxted, but his shot didn’t trouble the Lillywhite’s keeper.
Faversham doubled their lead four minutes into the second half, as Wilson’s pinpoint corner from the left was met by Scarborough’s glancing header, for his first goal of the season; the club’s 99th in Ryman South.
Three minutes later, it looked certain that Stuart King would complete the century, but he pulled his shot wide left. King though, only had to wait until the 61st minute to score the landmark goal, although the chance was gifted by a horrendous miskick from Jack Eden. Roberts played a French clearance back toward his goalkeeper on the edge of the area, where Eden’s clearance kick was sliced high into the air. King had time to wait for the ball to drop before coolly lobbing the keeper to make it three on the night.
Within five minutes, the outstanding Wilson had created two further chances. First Harris twisted and turned past Roberts, leaving the defender on his backside, only for Moraes to block his shot. Then Wilson, from another left wing corner, whipped a swirling effort under the crossbar, where Eden had to dive back and punch clear before the ball entered the net.
On 66, Jack Sullivan intercepted an Eden clearance inside the Carshalton half, allowing Wilson to lift a ball over the back four into the path of Robertson. The winger managed to get a touch to the throughball before the inevitable collision with Eden; a collision that left the keeper on the ground, while Mr Butler awarded Faversham’s second penalty of the evening.
After a four-minute delay, Eden had to be helped from the field, to be replaced by midfielder Matthew Males. The delay could have disrupted Wilson’s concentration, but the Lillywhite’s skipper stepped up to send Males the wrong way.
Seeing that Males wasn’t the tallest barrier in front of goal, Wilson attempted an audacious effort with a freekick from the left wing, all of 45 yards out, which flew past the left upright. But Males was helpless to deny Jack Harris his eighteenth of the season on 76. This time it was King who played the telling throughball, allowing Harris to apply a thumping finish past the stationary replacement keeper; although in fairness to Males, it is doubtful that a full fit Eden would have been able to stop the effort.
With the result in the bag for Faversham, Carshalton suddenly created two outstanding chances, with Brendan Murray-McVey striking the top of the bar with a 28-yard freekick, and Clarke testing French from range on two occasions.
With seven minutes left, Stanford and Wilson played a one-two on the edge of the Robins’ area. As Stanford tried to lift his shot over Males, the replacement keeper managed to get his shoulder in the way. The ball dropped perfectly to King, who attempted a left foot volley, which struck Panton, who had tried to get back onto the line.
George Monger then played a ball through to Stanford, who was denied by a desperate Moraes tackle in the D. Once again the ball ran loose to King, whose shot was beaten away by Males,
So Faversham have opened up a four point lead over Kent rivals Folkestone Invicta with just six matches remaining in the chase for second place, and that all-important home advantage in the Ryman South playoffs. Next up at Salters Lane is the visit of the champions-elect, Burgess Hill Town, who are still unbeaten away from home after 19 games.
FAVERSHAM TOWN: Rob French, Jack Sullivan, Jamie Maxted, Wayne Wilson, John Scarborough, Ashley Brown, Charley Robertson (Renford Tenyue 71), George Monger, Jack Harris, Stuart King, Josh Stanford (Chris Webber 90).
Subs not used: Aidan Sherlock, Dan King.
Goals: Wayne Wilson 27 (pen) & 71 (pen), John Scarborough 49, Stuart King 61, Jack Harris 76.
CARSHALTON ATHLETIC: Jack Eden (Matthew Males 70), Jordan Higgs, Ricardo Panton, Owen Roberts (Alexander Kenlock 80), Adriano Moraes, Joshua Adusei (Connor Power 76), Jordan Clarke, Brendan Murray-McVey, Ricky Korboa, Tommy Bradford, Sean O’Toole.
Subs not used: Austin Gacheru, Mickel Miller.
Booking: Sean O’Toole 25.
Attendance: 170
Referee: Mr S Butler
Assistants: Mr R Battye and Mr S Perry