It was five of the best for Faversham, who recovered from a slow start to end the evening as the new leaders of Ryman One South.
Renford Tenyue’s goal against the run of play kick-started the home side and Dean Grant added a second before the break.
A brace from Jack Harris, and a towering header from Matt Bourne in the second period sealed the Lillywhites’ 8th win in 10 midweek league games this season; each win seeing 3 or more goals scored by their potent attack.
Ray Turner, Faversham’s manager, was a satisfied man at full time, saying “It became very comfortable, but it wasn’t always so. Football matches tend to swing on certain events. I think they started quite brightly, but we grew into the game, and it ended up really convincing. We’re going out there and winning games.”
“We were really pushed on the injury front, and probably a bit more disjointed than normal. I’m concerned about Ren (Tenyue) as it’s a medical condition and he’s struggling to breathe, so he’s off to hospital tonight. Josh (Stanford) has problems with his hamstrings, so I didn’t want to take a risk, but I had Luke Harvey ready to go.”
“We had a lot of forwards on the pitch at one point, but fortunately they came up with goals. If you look at the league, we’re the top goalscorers, and that’s great as you need to get away from teams. Once we got the third one, they dipped and we took full control.”
“Simon (Overland) had to do a job tonight, and I was pleased for him and the whole back four. Also, Wayne Wilson is critical for our side as his delivery (from deadballs) is League quality. He puts everything right where you want it, and that creates great opportunities for us.”
The first 15 minutes of the game were no indication of the final result, as Walton & Hersham tried to play a high tempo game on the saturated surface, and the visitors had the first clear chance of the game. Gareth Chendlik held the ball up well allowing the evergreen Andre Scarlett to slid a pass through a high Faversham defence for Matt Reece to run clear. Simon Overland came out quickly to narrow the angle enough, as Reece fired his shot wide.
With their first real effort, and against the run of play, Faversham took the lead in the 16th minute. Josh Stanford’s curling left foot cross from the right side found Renford Tenyue arriving late at the back post to outleap Nathan Daly, and direct a powerful header in at the top left angle.
Faversham were content to hit the visitors on the counter attack, and Dean Grant was released in behind Jahmahl King by Jack Harris, but Grant’s low shot in the area was blocked well to his left by keeper Gary Ross; allowing Daly to complete the clearance.
Tenyue crept into the area to attempt another header at goal from a Stanford cross, before being forced from the field, but Walton were being profligate at the other end. An adventurous run and cross from Daly found Dylan Cascoe free in the Faversham area, but the Walton winger couldn’t sort his feet out, and ended up scuffing the ball tamely wide.
Overland had to be on his toes to claim a wickedly curling cross from a Tarone Hemmings freekick, and Matthew Bourne bravely blocked a King shot, after a Hemmings’ corner fell to the centreback inside the Faversham six-yard box.
The home side doubled their lead on 42 through Grant, with a vitrual carbon copy of his earlier chance. Harris flicked Overland’s long clearance beyond a static defence. This time, Ross chose not to advance until it was too late, allowing Grant enough time to poke the ball beyond the keeper before the two collided heavily.
On the stroke of half time, Overland saved his team in another one-on-one with Reece. The Walton forward was released in the inside left channel by Chendlik, and as he bore down on goal, chose to shot early, allowing Overland to parry behind.
Eight minutes into the second half, Overland denied Reece again in a similar manner; this time Kwabena Osei played the key pass, but the Faversham keeper was took good for the Walton forward again.
Faversham’s third goal came from a Walton & Hersham error inside their own half just before the hour. Luke Harvey robbed Osei and pushed the ball into the area. Harris swept past King and curled his shot round an exposed Ross.
This goal demoralised the visitors and Bourne was able to add a fourth in the 73rd minute. Wayne Wilson’s pinpoint corner from the right found Bourne charging unmarked through the box, and the centreback leapt highest to power a header past Ross.
Almost immediately, Wilson put Harris through, although the angle was narrowing as his cross-shot was well saved by Ross, and Overland matched his opposite number as Walton threw one last effort at the home side. Scarlett unleashed a 35-yard drive that skidded awkwardly into Overland’s arms, then the keeper had to arch acrobatically to tip Chendlik’s header over the bar.
Harris added a 5th goal with three minutes remaining. Once again, a Wilson right wing corner found its way through the Walton area to an unmarked Harris, and the on-loan Maidstone United forward lashed a drive through the crowd of played into the back of the net.
With almost the last kick of the game, Wilson curled a freekick from the left wing over the Walton defence, but Ross was able to turn the effort onto the bar at full stretch, and Faversham couldn’t convert the rebound.
When asked about going to the top of the league ahead of another tough game against Hastings on Saturday, Turner added “I’ve said to the boys that these results make a statement. The last 3 Tuesday’s now, we’ve got four at Three Bridges, three at Whitstable, and now five tonight. It’s a testament to their strength, because it’s never easy doing Saturday/Tuesday, but we’re comfortable here, and teams have to come to try and get points off us.”
FAVERSHAM TOWN: Simon Overland, Sam Bewick, Ashley Brown, Daniel King, Matthew Bourne, John Scarborough ©, Renford Tenyue (Kieran Oliver 39), Wayne Wilson, Jack Harris, Dean Grant (Giorgio Russo 79), Josh Stanford (Luke Harvey 52).
Subs not used: George Monger, Daniel Carrington.
Goals: Renford Tenyue 16, Dean Grant 42, Jack Harris 59 & 87, Matthew Bourne 73.
WALTON & HERSHAM: Gary Ross ©, Nathan Daly, Dominic Ogun, Andre Scarlett, Jahmahl King, Harry Mills, Tarone Hemmings, Kwabena Osei (Anthony Oaks 82), Gareth Chendlik, Matt Reece (Andrew Dalhouse 57), Dylan Cascoe (Julian Bartus 67).
Subs not used: Daniel Ranger, Vernon Francis.
Attendance: 137
Referee: Mr S Brown
Assistants: Mr K Dempster and Mr M Marsh