A fortuitous deflection six and a half minutes into time added on maintained Faversham Town’s unbeaten return to the Isthmian Southeast as Hassocks came within seconds of ending the Lilywhites unbeaten run in League football which is now into the thirties. 

After an opening period where both sides had chances but neither looked like converting, the visitors were in front within thirty seconds of the restart as Morgan Vale was on hand to steer a cross into the home net.

Faversham then spent most of the rest of the game encamped in the Sussex side’s half with the final ball missing far too many times surely for boss Tommy Warrilow’s liking.

But just as it seemed that Hassocks would return home with the points, a driven ball into their box from Harrison Pont deflected off the unfortunate Matt Gunn and into the net seconds after the “signaled” stoppage time had elapsed. 

With top scorer Tashi-Jay Kwaiye missing because of work commitments, Faversham named a changed side who had battled back for a point at Herne Bay at the weekend, but the home side had the first chance as Kieron Campbell curled an effort just wide. 

Vale had an effort cleared off the line after beating Faversham keeper Roshan Greensall to a long ball and when the keeper did well to deny Jack Troak, the home side were wobbling.  

Skipper Matt Newman should have done better when a Bradley Simms long throw fell to him, but the defender could only head straight at James Shaw, before the game exploded into life just before the break.

Only a great defensive block stopped Troak having a clear effort at goal and from the corner, Tommie Fagg led the home charge and Frankie Smith had his shot well blocked by Shaw, who did very well to recover in time to block Johan Caney-Bryan’s follow up. 

The second half was seconds old, and many hadn’t regained their positions from their half-time refreshments when Vale was on hand to steer Hassocks into the lead. 

Warrilow introduced Nathan Wood, and the home side suddenly had an impetus, and it was from Wood’s centre that Simms had an effort brilliantly blocked by a last gasp challenge.

Wood himself then had an effort cleared off the line after Shaw’s punch fell for him, and Pont headed a great chance straight at the Hassocks keeper after Caney-Bryan had knocked back a cross. 

Wood then somehow managed to inadvertently contrive to clear the ball off the Hassocks line as the ball was helped goalwards in a melee leaving many if not most of the home support fearing that that was that! 

But the resilience that Warrilow has installed in this side is remarkable and still they came, but even the manager couldn’t have believed what happened.

As the last of the six indicated minutes ticked by, another ball was played into the Hassocks box and as it was played to the left, a cross – or was it a shot – cannoned in off Gunn to deny Hassocks the shock win and leave Faversham unbeaten in the League after fifteen and level on points with leaders Three Bridges. 

FAVERSHAM TOWN – Greensall, Simms, Frankie Smith (Dyer), Parter, Newman, Pont, Ethan Smith, Barnes (Wood), Caney-Bryan, Fagg, Campbell 

Subs – Gorham, Saunders, Fox 

HASSOCKS – Shaw, Blake, Bull, Allen, Gunn, Hendy, Henry (Theodore), Munday (Bryan-Enticknap), Vale (Benson), Leahy, Troak 

Subs – Farrell, Pitcher 

REFEREE – Mr. Heron