Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Town rediscover form in style
Ryman League
Faversham returned to form with an eye-catching 2-0 success against high-flying Ryman League, Division 1 South rivals Carshalton Athletic at the Shepherd Neame Stadium on Saturday.
Ray Turner’s side were boosted by the return of keeper Will Godmon from a spell at Leatherhead and the inclusion of fit again Jamie Maxted.
They produced a superb defensive performance and created plenty of chances at the other end.
Town began brightly and Maxted split the defence with a through-ball for Dean Grant to fire in a shot which Jack Minchin tipped over.
Jordan Hibbert and Ricky Korboa then released Tommy Bradford at the other end but he curled narrowly wide.
George Monger drew a save from the keeper after a flick from Grant while Godmon held two tame efforts at the other end before Town went ahead on 35 minutes.
Grant’s cross into the middle after a Sam Bewick corner was dropped by Minchin for Jack Steventon to force home from close range.
Bradford had another chance just before the break but again fired wide while after the turnaround, Mickel Miller’s corner saw Kalvin MorathGibbs head wide.
On 66 minutes, Monger looped a pass for Grant to chase and although he won possession and beat the keeper, his shot crept wide.
Within five minutes, Monger and Bewick again combined to find Grant who was even closer with his shot past the post.
However, on 71 minutes, it was 2-0 when Bewick found Luke Harvey just outside the box and he produced a fine finish into the bottom corner.
Godmon then produced a couple of flying saves while Bobby Price hit the outside of the post as Town held on.
Herne Bay suffered a 2-1 defeat at Corinthian Casuals, who played more than half the game with 10 men.
Bay dominated much of the match but poor finishing and good Casuals defending saw them edged out.
The first half was even with defences on top, although on three minutes, a Juevan Spencer cross for Casuals was met by Jamie Byatt who headed over from 10 yards.
Two minutes later, Bay made the same move with Connor Sanders crossing for Danny Williams who fired wide.
Bay nearly went ahead on 13 minutes when Sanders played in Joe Nelder but his shot was well saved by Danny Bracken in the Casuals goal.
From the resulting corner, Ben Gorham headed down for Danny Williams to crash the ball past Bracken to break the deadlock.
Within a minute, however, Casuals were level when Mahrez Bettache crossed to find Spencer unmarked to fire past Jack Delo.
Casuals were reduced to 10 a minute before the break when Danny Dudley was ordered off by referee Stephen Graham for an apparent stamp.
The second half started with the Bay in total command, forcing several corners but good defensive work by Terry Marray and Spencer kept them out.
Just after the hour Casuals broke out with Josh Uzan bursting through before squaring to Bettache who shot past Delo.
Bay pushed forward in numbers but further chances went as Williams and Nelder both squandered openings.
The visitors continued to blitz the Casuals goal but resolute defending and poor finishing by the Bay forwards prevented an equaliser and the day finished on an even lower note as Adam Woolcott was stretchered off with an ankle injury.