A Tashi-Jay Kwayie hat-trick propelled Faversham Town to comfortable progress in their FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round replay at Salters Lane. 

Balham from the Combined Counties League battled bravely especially in the first half and after Rob White brilliantly cancelled out Kwayies opening goal for the home side just before the break, it seemed that Faversham’s backs were to the wall.  

But in stoppage time Eniye Amgbaduba magnificently headed Nathan Wood’s cross beyond keeper James Smith – who had been outstanding in the opening period – and gave the home side a lead that was never really threatened in the second period.

Wood helped himself to a cracker as Kwayie turned provider before helping himself to two more – one bundled home and the second (to complete his hat-trick) a penalty straight down the middle to put the finishing touches to a five-star display. 

Kwayie gave the visitors a warning in the opening minutes but could only shoot straight at Smith. The keeper came to Balham’s rescue as he dealt really well with Amgbaduba’s cross shot before the keeper was really brave to deny Kwayie again. 

It wasn’t all one way traffic though as in between Erick Arias tried an audacious back hell that hit the side netting, but the visitors were then extremely fortunate as Kieron Campbell raced away only to be felled – to the naked eye it appeared inside the box but referee Morley deemed it inches outside. 

Quite how the visitors didn’t open the scoring just after that is still a mystery. A brilliant move down the right saw Arias play the ball in for White who beat keeper Jacob Russell (who was clearly struggling with a leg injury) only to scrape the foot of the post as the ball went wide. 

Kwayie made the visitors pay as he arced onto a brilliant through ball from Wood, getting to the ball just ahead of the keeper and a covering defender and lifted the ball into the net. 

The home side thought they’d double the lead, but Tommie Fagg was deemed offside before White brilliantly swept home another fine ball from Arias. The visitors thought that they had reached the break level but in the final minute of five added, Amgbaduba rode brilliant to head home Woods long cross. 

The second period belonged to Faversham. 

Wood was unlucky not to make it 3-1 after racing onto a great ball from Amgbaduba before going even closer as he rounded the keeper in the next attack only to hit the post. 

Wood did net the third just before the hour – played through by Kwayie – and then the striker netted his second and his sides fourth bundling home from a corner. 

Fagg smacked a thirty yard drive off the bar before the visitors rallied with Sam Pagano going close twice – first with a free kick that bounced off the top of the bar and then the Balham man was denied by a brilliant Russell save – the save of the night! 

When Campbell was brought down Kwayie slammed home the spot kick to seal what was a terrific performance from the home side who had come so close to losing the original tie at the weekend. 

Faversham move onto a tough looking Preliminary Round tie at Merstham but first and more importantly, Tommy Warrilow next leads his side back into the Isthmian League with a trip to VCD Athletic, the side who chased them all the way to the SCFEL title last season. 

FAVERSHAM TOWN – Russell, Ossai, Parter, Pont (Newman), Davies, Gorham, Wood (Ademiluyi), Kwayie, Amgbaduba, Fagg (Isaacs), Campbell 

Subs – Smith, Collin, Caney-Bryan, Hall 

BALHAM – Smith, Tequaniel Palmer (Withers), Pagano, Mark Palmer, Kyei, Arias (Bartham), Bartley, White, Gnekrile, Cruz Rosa (Hardisty) 

Sub – Johnson 

REFEREE – Mr. Morley