Saturday 21 March 2015. Ryman League, Division One South.
Walton & Hersham 1 Faversham Town 4.
For the second weekend running Swans went into the break just 1-0 down after competing well, only to concede two quick goals in the second-half. At Three Bridges in the previous match they had quickly fought back and could well have got a positive result, but against a Kent side firmly ensconced in second-place in the division, a 3-0 deficit was always going to be terminal;. They did pull a goal back and pressed for more, but the visitors finally gave the score a somewhat unbalanced look with a fourth goal deep into stoppage-time.
Jahmahl King was able to return after missing two matches with a foot injury, but Andrew Mensah had not recovered from the ankle injury sustained at Three Bridges, while Anthony Oaks’ own ankle injury resulted in him being rested and named among the substitutes. James Cottee was also able to return after being unavailable the previous Saturday, with Gareth Chendlik and Tarome Hemmings also being recalled to the starting line-up.
Swans started confidently, having a fair degree of possession, and it was a quarter of an hour before the visitors threatened, Josh Stanford getting forward on the left to strike a low shot wide of the near-post. Martin Beard then just denied Stanford at the far-post when Dave Botterill crossed from the left, and home goalkeeper Gary Ross was able to collect.
Despite Swans mounting several attacks it was 21 minutes before they got in a shot, Chendlik hooking in a fine effort from 30 yards that Faversham keeper Rob French just managed to beat down from under his bar.
The visitors won a free-kick out on the left touchline, but Wayne Wilson’s ball-in dropped harmlessly wide of the far-post. Jack Harris then volleyed over at the far-post when Botterill crossed from the right.
The first-half had been evenly contested, although the visitors had always looked the more threatening without seriously troubling Ross in Swans’ goal, so it was disappointing when they went ahead after 34 minutes. Stanford laid the ball back from the right to Wilson, whose run into the box was not picked up, and he struck a fine first-time shot past Ross.
With the half entering the final five minutes Faversham’s Stuart King drove the ball across from the left and Harris just failed to turn it in at the far-post.
Swans had a half chance in the final minute when Nathan Daly picked out Vernon Francis on the left with a cross from the right, and he laid the ball in to Cottee, but he shot over the bar.
Swans could well have gone further behind straight from the resumption when Harris was sent clear, but fortunately Ross was quickly out to kick clear at the edge of the box. But the reprieve was short-lived, as four minutes into the half Charley Robertson was allowed to surge forward from his own half before finding Stanford on the left, and he drove a first-time shot low inside the near-post.
Five minutes later it was 3-0 to the Kent side when Robertson broke into the box on the right, and when Ross was only able to block the ball it ran to Harris, who found the top of the net.
Swans’ efforts on goal had been minimal, but Harry Mills got in a volley from 30 yards out that flew wide. Although not fully fit Oaks was brought on to try to change things, and he was soon playing Shawn Lyle down the right, but his low cross was well cut out by keeper French.
But with 25 minutes left a short corner was played on the left, and when Oaks got in the cross Cottee sent a glancing header into the far-corner to give Swans a glimmer of hope.
Daly sent over a cross from the right, but Lyle could not get in a full header at the far-post and the ball went wide.
Robertson had a chance on the right for Faversham, but his low shot was straight at Ross.
Swans continued to press, and with four minutes of normal-time remaining French dropped the ball under pressure when Daly sent over a high cross from the right, but Cottee could only stab the ball wide as he was closed down.
But three minutes into stoppage-time Stanford got to the line on the left for Faversham, and when Daly failed to get in a tackle he crossed to substitute Renford Tenyue, who had only been on the pitch for a minute, and his first touch of the ball was a simple knock-in past Ross.
Swans’ Team: Gary Ross, Nathan Daly, Martin Beard, André Scarlett, Jahmahl King, Harry Mills, Tarome Hemmings, Vernon Francis (Anthony Oaks 59’), James Cottee, Gareth Chendlik (Josh Cover 54’), Shawn Lyle (Jack Battie 78’). Subs. not used: Ed Mason, Jake Bedford. Scorer: Cottee (65’). Caution: Beard, foul (61’).
Faversham Team: French, Webber, Maxted, Wilson, Scarborough, Brown, Robertson, Botterill, Harris, S. King (Tenyue 90+2’), Stanford. Subs. not used: Sherlock, Monger, Sullivan, D. King. Scorers: Wilson (34’), Stanford (49’), Harris (54’), Tenyue (90+3’).
