RYMAN LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Lilywhites unable to BUILD on Lead as slump continues

Faversham suffered a fourth defeat in five Ryman League, Division 1 South games after surrendering the lead to lose 2-1 at Carshalton Athletic on Monday night. Ben Bridle-card needed to make a flying save to keep out a shot in the early stages with the rebound blazed over and the Town keeper did well to block a Mickel Miller effort soon after. Jack Steventon saw a downward header cleared off the line from a Josh Stanford corner before Sam Bewick dragged a shot wide after cutting inside following a Stanford pass. An unmarked Bewick headed a George Monger free-kick over while Tommy Bradford curled a longrange free-kick over the bar at the other end before half-time. The hosts piled on the pressure after the break and only solid Town defence kept them at bay. However, in the 58th minute, the visitors broke the deadlock when a Monger free-kick was glanced past the challenging keeper by the head of Bola Dawodu. The lead was shortlived, though, as Faversham were caught on the break in the 60th minute as the ball was swept to the right for Miller who drove towards goal and rounded Bridle-card before firing into the net despite Matt Bourne’s best efforts to clear off the line. Dawodu hooked a half-chance over as Town sought a reply and Bewick saw a shot turned wide before substitute Luke Harvey was also thwarted as his effort from a Steventon flick was tipped wide. Faversham were made to pay seven minutes from time when they lost possession deep in the Athletic half and were stung on the break with Miller again driving into the box before firing into the corner past Bridle-card to win it and inflict a seventh defeat of the season on Ray Turner’s men. Town’s trip to Molesey on Saturday was washed-out. Herne Bay’s resurgence continued on Saturday as they won for a fourth straight time to continue to climb Division 1 South. They had to do it the hard way as they found themselves 2- 0 down at East Grinstead inside 10 minutes, only to recover to level before half-time and then win it in the dying seconds. The opening goal came from a sixth-minute corner from which the unmarked Callum Emptage broke the deadlock and former Bay defender George Benner headed home a free-kick four minutes later. Bay got a hold in the game on 20 minutes when a long clearance from keeper Jack Delo was brought down by Danny Williams who spun and drove to the byline before sending a low cross towards Mark Lovell which was turned over the line by home defender Jerome Roseje. Just after the half hour, Bay won a free-kick just outside the box which was thundered goalward by Chris Elliott and although Wasps goalkeeper Chris Haigh parried the effort away, Joe Nelder headed the ball back into the goalmouth for Williams to level. After the break, Adam Woollcott put Nelder through on the left only for Haigh to thwart him and Delo twice had to be at his best to keep Bay out, while Woollcott and substitute Nathan Eastwood – on his 350th Bay appearance – both blasted chances over. With time running out and a draw looking certain, Woollcott swung in a cross from which Williams headed home to snatch the points. The 3-2 victory took Herne Bay seven points clear of the drop zone.