A goal from Matt Newman has taken Faversham Town to the verge of being crowned SCEFL Premier Champions as Tommy Warrilow’s Lillywhites dug deep to beat Kent Senior Trophy finalists Larkfield and New Hythe 2-1.
After Tommie Fagg’s opener had been cancelled out by Bryan Zeppo’s goal three minutes from half time, the second period was a pulsating 45 minutes of football with neither side giving way, and if possible, the game became even more stretched and end-to-end after Newman pounced on two flick ons to a long throw.
The final whistle was greeted scenes of celebration even though Warrilow was first to insist that there would be no celebrations until it is mathematically certain as going into the weekend VCD Athletic trail the Champions elect by nine points with just three games left and are twenty-one goals behind on goal difference.
VCD host Play Off chasers Rusthall at the weekend and so Warrilow’s side could well be crowned League champions whilst they train at Salters Lane on Saturday afternoon if VCD do not win. If they do, Faversham will be crowned Champions at the Culvenden Stadium next week by avoiding defeat against Tunbridge Wells.
Larkfield, who themselves chase silverware at the weekend when they face Isuzu FA Vase finalists Whitstable Town at the Gallagher on Sunday in the Kent Senior Trophy Final, gave as good as they got on a very difficult pitch and on another day might have completed the double over Faversham after winning at Salters Lane back in late October.
Nathan Wood could have put the visitors in front early on but couldn’t convert Johan Caney Bryan’s centre, before he turned provider for Fagg to smash home from a terrific ball into the box.
Larkfield’s first chance fell to Fraser Walker who shot wide after Zeppo had gone down in the box before the big Larkfield number nine levelled the scores just before the break. Tyler Ibe’s shot was well blocked by keeper Jacob Russell, but Zeppo reacted first to silence the Faversham fans in the crowd who accounted probably for around two-thirds of the attendance.
Early in the second period, Fagg had a drive that looked destined for the net, but Caney-Bryan couldn’t get out of the way of before tempers flared in an almighty nineteen-man kerfuffle which resulted from Caney-Bryan and Nathan Daly clashing.
Ibe became more and more of a threat down the left as the home side looked to try and win the game with Russell doing well to punch away a teasing centre.
Newman struck with fifteen minutes left as he forced home at the back post as keeper Carter Sullivan collided with a defender leaving Newman with an open goal that the 37-year-old didn’t miss.
Substitute-Matt Day was inches away from a glorious equaliser as he raced onto a through ball and blasted the chance first time over a motionless Russell, but his dipping volley didn’t dip enough as it landed on the roof of the net.
Six minutes of stoppage time didn’t dampen the mood and at the final whistle, the roars were roars of Champions, well nearly!
LARKFIELD & NEW HYTHE – Sullivan, Woodcock, Gordon, King, Daly, Ibertson, Walker (Russell), Davisson, Zeppo (Day), Carnegie (Richardson), Ibe (Welford)
Sub – Harris
FAVERSHAM TOWN – Russell, Ossai, Simms, Newman, Davies, Gorham, Wood (Parter), Kwayie (Onu), Caney-Bryan (Byron), Fagg, Campbell (Collin)
Sub – Hasler
REFEREE – Mr. Collins