Faversham Town came away with a hard earned point against champions elect Hastings as their performance today was miles better than last weeks while Hastings would probably be disappointed with theirs even though it meant they became champions & promotion.

The first half saw Hastings have more possession but lacked penetration as Faversham defended in numbers but would get better as the half continued. In the 9^th minute a long throw into the Faversham area came to Sam Hasler but from 8 yards he volleyed over the bar.

The game continued with Hastings in the ascendancy but in the 22^nd minute Faversham took the lead against the run of play when Louis Rogers, Finn O’Mara & Craig Stone tried to pass their way out from their own area but Manny Oluwasemo & Marcus Elliott pressed them & Oluwasemo got possession of the ball & passed into the path of Elliott who from 10 yards stroked the ball into an empty net.

The old saying is when you get a goal confidence grows & three minutes later Benny Bioletti knocked the ball forward to Oluwasemo who passed to Elliott & his volleyed shot went past the post.

As the half came closer Hastings suddenly showed why they were going to be champions when in the 41^st minute Ben Pope was put through on goal but his shot was saved by Kie Plumley’s legs & then cleared.

In the 44^th minute Hastings equalised when Matt Bourne making his 450^th appearance for Faversham was adjudged to have fouled Pope & a free kick was given, up stepped Hasler & from 22 yards his shot went into the bottom right hand corner, then in the first minute off added on time a long throw into the area found Hasler but his header from 6 yards went over the bar.

The second half started with Faversham on the front foot & in the 47^th minute Harry Harding tried his luck from 20 yards but his shot went wide.

Hastings took a while to get going & in the 61^st minute they had a glorious chance to take the lead when a cross to the back post found substitute Kenny Pogue but from 5 yards his volley went straight into Plumley’s mid drift, another chance went a begging two minutes later when Matt Bourne’s clearance went backwards & Pope latched onto it but from 8 yards his shot went wide.

In the 67^th minute Hasler picked up a loose ball & from 20 yards saw his shot parried away by Plumley. Faversham were defending stoutly while relying on breakaways & in the 75^th minute a long throw by Lewis Chambers into the area found Bourne but his header went over the bar.

In the 82^nd minute Hastings had their last chance when Pope’s long throw into the area found O’Mara but he headed over the bar.

The last moments of the game saw Hastings try to get the winner but without too much conviction as they knew they would be champions & when the final whistle went the Hastings supporters ran on the pitch to celebrate.

         FAVERSHAM TOWN:

1.  K.PLUMLEY    2. B.BIOLETTI (90+1)  3. C.DICKENS  4. L.CHAMBERS   5. M.BOURNE   6. J.RICHARDSON 7. S.BEWICK  8. H.HARDING   9. M.ELLIOTT   10. M.OLUWASEMO  11. C.WOODCOCK (72)

SUBS USED:  16. E.SMITH (72)  17. S.BLACKWOOD (90+1)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. A.EYLES  14. L.NEALE  14. C.SEDUNA

BOOKINGS: 5. M.BOURNE (43)

        HASTINGS UNITED:

1. L.ROGERS     4. F.O’MARA   5. C.STONE  6. T.CHAMBERS  7. D.PARISH (81)  8. J.DIXON 9. B.POPE   10. S.ADAMS (57)   12. M.GOLDSMITH  11. S.HASLER   15. J.HULL (49)

SUBS USED: 14. K.POGUE (49)  16. K.PENN (57)  19. D.MARTIN (81)

SUBS NOT USED: 2. O.BLACK  3. R.WORRALL

BOOKINGS: 14. K.POGUE (50)  9. B.POPE (90+3)

REFEREE: Mr B.BLADES

ASSISTANTS: Mr T.MARSHALL & Mr M.CHARLES

ATTENDANCE; 480