Faversham 3 Tonbridge 1 match report
Published: 18:30, 02 September 2017
Two-goal Mark Lovell fired Faversham to FA Cup glory at Salters Lane on Saturday.
Lovell led the way as the lower-league Lilywhites deservedly knocked out Bostik Premier Tonbridge, who also missed a late penalty, in the first qualifying round tie.
It was a display full of guts and determination from Ray Turner's side, sprinkled with quality - most notably from Danny Walder, who provided three assists for the hosts.
Faversham took just seven minutes to set the tone - and banish memories of their shock Bank Holiday Monday home defeat to Herne Bay in the league.
Walder's deep corner was met at the far post by Lovell, whose downward header proved too good for Angels keeper Jon Henly.
Faversham drafted in Carl Rook to play centre-back against his former club and he enjoyed a good battle with Tonbridge's front pairing of Nathan Elder and Andre McCollin.
The latter nearly claimed an equaliser for Tonbridge on 22 minutes but his left-foot shot from 20 yards came back off the inside of the upright and went across the face of goal before being cleared to safety.
Faversham doubled their lead on 30 minutes with a goal of stunning quality to light up an excellent Kent derby. From midway inside his own half, Walder sprayed a first-time pass inside Tonbridge left-back Jey Siva and Lovell didn't need to break stride before firing beyond Henly to make it 2-0.
It was game on seven minutes later as the lively McCollin got the goal he deserved, a blistering finish after Tom Beere's assist while keeper Simon Overland denied Joe Turner just before the break.
Chris Kinnear and then Turner, twice, went close to bringing Tonbridge level early in the second half as the visitors dominated possession. But what Faversham lacked in territorial play, they made up for in determination, giving everything to the cause to frustrate the visitors.
On the break, Liam King proved a useful outlet for Faversham and Lovell used all his experience to give Tonbridge plenty to think about.
The third goal arrived midway through the second half. A corner was only half-cleared and when Walder delivered another pin-point cross into the penalty area, it was an invitation that the unmarked Matt Bourne could not turn down and he powered home an unstoppable header.
Tonbridge boss Steve McKimm had replaced both strikers and one of his substitutes, Alex Akrofi, had a glorious chance to set up a grandstand finish with 12 minutes left.
Referee Bandara spotted a foul at the far post but Akrofi's spot-kick was brilliantly saved to his right by keeper Overland.
Fellow substitute Dan Thompson twice headed wide for Tonbridge, and Overland did well to deny Kinnear and then Akrofi as the visitors pushed forward.
But Faversham were not going to be denied, and they deservedly saw out more than five minutes of stoppage time to reach the second qualifying round for the fourth time in five years.
Faversham: Overland, Cooper, Carrington, Walder, Bourne, Rook, Bewick, Monger, King, Lovell, Robertson (Casey 16mins). Subs not used: Murray, Lawford, Lightfoot, Cheek, Griffiths, Blaikie.
Tonbridge: Henly, Stone, Siva, Kinnear, Miles, Beavan, Blewden (Whitnell 77mins), Beere, Elder (Thompson 60mins), McCollin (Akrofi 65mins), Turner. Subs not used: Smith, Adonis-Taylor, Copeland.
Attendance: 346.
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Matthew Panting