Faversham finished their League programme with an emphatic victory over a Walton Casuals who had nothing to play for & now face Merstham in the Play-offs.

This was a moral victory for the Lilywhites as they go into the Play-offs but it could have been different as in the 7^th minute Casuals took the lead when Billy Dunn on the right cut inside & went across the 18 yard box before curling his shot into the left hand corner of the net, but this just woke Faversham up & for the rest of the game they enjoyed most of the possession.

In the 13^th minute Dave Botterill received the ball 25 yards out & his volleyed shot was easily saved by Harvey Cheadle, then in the 18^th minute a long throw by Ashley Brown ( who was making his 250^th appearance for the club) into the area was met by Botterill’s head but from 8 yards out it flew past the post.

Two minutes later Dean Grant was put through but Cheadle rushed off his line forcing Grant to lob him & the ball went over the bar. Another half chance came in the 34^th minute when Jack Harris on the left wing passed into the path of Charlie Robertson but again his shot was saved by Cheadle.

In the 39^th minute a Wayne Wilson free kick into the area was met by Botterill but his header was saved & just as the players, management & supporters were wondering if they would get back into this game Wilson was the saviour as in the first minute off added on time his free kick from 25 yards out curled round the wall & into the top right hand corner, this was what Faversham had deserved after dominating possession.

The second half saw Faversham come out of the blocks like Usain Bolt as they scored three goals in nine minutes.

Firstly in the 47^th minute a long throw into the area by Brown saw Botterill head into the net from 10 yards out.

In the 51^st minute Wilson was at it again as from 25 yards he curled the ball into the top left hand corner & then he had the opportunity of getting a hat trick of free kicks when four minutes later his free kick from 30 yards out went just past the post.

The fourth goal came in the very next minute when Wilson’s corner to the back post was met by Jamie Maxted who headed in from 3 yards.

In the 58^th minute Casuals nearly got a goal back when a cross into the area by Matt Bennett left Scott Day free & on his own 5 yards out & his header was superbly pushed around the post by Robert French.

In the 61^st minute another chance went a begging when a Wilson free kick into the 6 yard box found Harris but his flicked header went wide of the post.

Another great chance came in the 68^th minute when Maxted’s long ball forward found Stuart King in the area but Cheadle rushed out & King lobbed over him & the bar.

Two minutes later Casuals had their last chance of the game when a ball into the area found Gabriel Odunike & his shot was pushed away by French.

In the 72nd minute Casuals went down to 10 men when Tyler Myers received his second yellow card & once he finally left the field Stuart King stepped up & blasted the free kick over the bar.

In the 76^th minute Faversham received a bit of fortune as a penalty was given by the Referee for hand ball as the Casuals defence tried to clear the area, up stepped Botterill & he blasted the ball straight down the middle but Cheadle reacted well & saved it with his legs, but in the 79^th minute they made it five when Brad Webb on the right saw his low cross into the area met by Stuart King & from six yards out he side footed in.

The final whistle went & Faversham now have to get ready for the game on Tuesday night against Merstham who during the season collected a victory & a draw against them but as everyone knows knockout football is different.

 

FAVERSHAM TOWN:

1. FRENCH 2. A.BROWN  3. J.MAXTED  4. W.WILSON(68)  5. J.SCARBOROUGH  6.  M.BOURNE  7. C.ROBERTSON (62) 8. A.SHERLOCK 9. J.HARRIS (62) 10. D.GRANT  11. D. BOTTERILL

SUBS USED:  14. D.KING (62)  16. B.WEBB (62)  12. S.KING (68)

SUBS NOT USED:   15. C.WEBBER  17. J.SULLIVAN

BOOKINGS:  3. J.MAXTED (26)  10. D.GRANT (41)  6. M.BOURNE (90+1 )  12. S.KING (90+3)

 

WALTON CASUALS:

1. CHEADLE 2. T.MYERS  3. M.BENNETT  4. O.OBEYE-DALEY  5. Q.ROWE  6. M.JAMES-LEWIS (74) 7. B.DUN 8. L.COLLINS 9. G.ODUNIKE  10. S.DAY  11. N.DUKALI

SUBS USED: 12. A.JOHNSON (74)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. A.GALE  15. R.HAWKINS  16. L.MEDLEY  17. C.ALLEN

BOOKINGS:   2. T.MYERS (41 & 72)  3. M.BENNETT (54)

 

REFEREE: Mr E.KAYE

ASSISTANTS:  Mr R.CARTER  & Mr C.FARRELL

ATTENDANCE: 276