Derby delight caps week

Faversham Strike Force enjoyed a productive week which saw cup progression followed by a late 2-1 Division 1 win over rivals Canterbury City. A quiet first period ended goalless at Salters Lane on Saturday, but it took just four second-half minutes for the hosts to seize the initiative when Tom Barton netted clinically from Adam Sheepwash’s clever pass. Canterbury scored an equaliser five minutes later through Monty Saunders and had some great chances to take the lead player-of-the-match goalkeeper Harry Earls producing a string of excellent saves - before Jack Smith and Ali Wren made goalline clearances.

That resilience proved key as, with just minutes left, substitute Brooke Tiernan rifled in a top-corner rocket to claim his first club goal and a muchneeded three points.

Boss Stuart Benfield revealed a half-time demand for more positivity lay behind the victory.

“I was pleased with the performance in the first half but we weren't brave enough with our forward passes,” he said. “We addressed that at half-time and scored very quickly.

“It was disappointing to concede so quickly after taking the lead but the team showed real character afterwards, throwing their bodies on the line, and then it was a great finish from Brooke to snatch the win.” City manager Danny Lawrence reflected: “We are, obviously, disappointed with the loss but I think it was very harsh on the boys in a game that we really dominated. “What we did lack was any real quality in the final third whether that was from setpieces or final passes - and, ultimately, that’s what cost us. “At 1-1, our mindset was always to go searching for a winner even if that means losing the game as draws are no good to us in our hunt for the play-offs, so I take responsibility for the loss.

“I cannot fault the boys’ effort or the tempo in which we played. It was just that final bit that was missing.” Benfield’s side now go into a tough and intensive run of five games in 15 days.

First up was a league clash with high-flying Staplehurst last night (Wednesday), which followed last Wednesday’s exciting Division 1 Cup battle which ended in a 2-2 draw – a result sufficient for the Force to progress to the next round from the group stages. Faversham Strike Force got off to a great start, with Joe Kay winning an early penalty that was dispatched calmly by Kane Taylor.

They continued to fashion chances but could not take any of them and it looked like a cup exit was on the cards when the visitors scored twice with carbon-copy headers at the back post.

But a further headed goal from Cian Mccormack, his first of the season, saw the Faversham side through to the Semi-finals. This Saturday, Canterbury City host Rochester while Strike Force are at Greenways in the league.

City, who revealed the dualregistration arrival of young forward Kian Scott from Folkestone before the game, won 2-1 at home to K Sports on Tuesday night.

First-half goals from Brad Walledge and Mo Cham put Canterbury in control.

The visitors pulled one back after the restart and thought they had grabbed a dramatic late leveller - only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. n Manny Cuttress got on the scoresheet for Whitstable under-23s but they were beaten 2-1 at home by Lordswood Reserves in Kent County League Division 1 Central & East.

Both sides remain in the bottom three.

Chilham, who are sitting second on goal difference in Division 2 Central & East, exited this season’s Barleycorn Challenge Cup. They were beaten 4-2 at Rochester League side Little Sharsted. Jonny Townsend and Sam Creed struck for Chilham in three first-half minutes.