Wednesday 29th November 2011 // Ryman League Division One // Attendance: 268 // Report by Ruth Tunnell.
For the first time in fifteen league matches Maidstone United have tasted defeat as they went down to a Faversham side who fully deserved their victory.
The Stones never really got going in this fixture and with a number of injuries to key players beginning to mount up, manager Jay Saunders faces a race against time to get his squad ready for a difficult away tie at Bognor Regis on Saturday.
The home side started strongly and on seven minutes Justin Ascheri shot into the side netting before an effort from Michael Phillips on 11 minutes drew a diving save from Robert French in the Faversham goal.
Then on 15 minutes a corner from David Botterill picked out the unmarked Adrian Stone at the back post but he could not direct his header on target and then two minutes later, a long range effort from Stone was saved by Kelvin Jack.
It was then Maidstone’s turn to attack and with 19 minutes played a free-kick from Tommy Osborne was hit towards the edge of the area which drew Roberts from his goal. Shaun Welford managed to win the header and Alex Waugh reacted quickly but his volley flew wide.
Seconds later, Welford diverted Ellis Green’s free-kick into the net but he was adjudged to be in an offside position and then at the other end, a corner from Botterill was once again met by Stone and this time Jack made an excellent save to palm the ball away from the line.
After a lull in the proceedings, on 40 minutes Jack could not get a back pass from Osborne totally clear and the ball came to Tom Hickman just outside the area only for Hickman to drive the ball over the bar.
Then shortly afterwards, Maidstone took a free-kick quickly and released Green down the right hand side. As Green moved into the box, French came out of his goal and the Faversham keeper made a good save with his legs.
Four minutes after the break, Faversham took the lead when Stone took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to bundle the ball in from close range but the former Maidstone player did not celebrate scoring against his old side.
And it wasn’t long before the home side doubled their advantage as on 65 minutes when they worked the ball to Justin Ascheri who was just outside the area on the right hand side of the pitch and he hit a fine strike which flew past Jack into the net.
On 73 minutes Aaron Quain got in behind the Maidstone defence only to shoot straight at Jack and then six minutes later, Jack made a good save to tip an effort from Botterill over the bar.
Nine minutes from time, Sam Bewick gave The Stones a glimmer of hope when his free-kick from the edge of the box deflected into the net and Maidstone briefly pressed Faversham back as they searched for an equaliser.
But as the game moved towards full time The Lilywhites closed the game out effectively and with 90 minutes on the clock they nearly added a third when substitute Ashley Brown headed the ball goalwards and Tom Mills made an excellent clearance from close to the line.
Faversham Town: Adrian Stone 49, Justin Ascheri 65
Maidstone United: Sam Bewick 81
Faversham Town: Robert French, Shane Hamshare, Sam Gore, Tom Hickman, James Peacock, Matthew Bourne, Justin Ascheri (Dale Skelton 86), David Botterill, Adrian Stone, Danny Hockton (Ashley Brown 87), Aaron Quain (Thomas Axford 86). Subs not used: Simon Brown, Daneil Ellis
Maidstone United: Kelvin Jack, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Danny Lye, Graeme Andrews, Michael Phillips (Baff Addae 64), Ellis Green, Jay Saunders (Sean Johnson 87), Shaun Welford, Alex Waugh (James Pinnock 61), Sam Bewick. Subs not used: Karl Knight , Marc Powell.
