Faversham Town KYL U13’s faced off against West Wickham Junior U13 Kent in a gripping cup encounter at the West Wickham Cricket & Football Club on 20 October 2024. The match kicked off at 10:00 am and concluded with a nail-biting scoreline of 3-2 in favour of Faversham, who showcased resilience and skill throughout the contest.
Faversham Town adopted a 3-1-4-2 formation, which allowed them to maintain a solid defensive structure while providing ample support for their attacking players. Owen Ross took his place in goal, shielded by a trio of defenders: Oskar Gurney on the right, Olivier DeLemos in the centre, and Bobby Davin on the left. Charlie Lyonette operated as the central midfielder, tasked with linking defence and attack, while Ryan Cairns and Vinnie Rule played as right and left attacking midfielders respectively, looking to create opportunities for the forwards. CJ Jemmett also contributed to the attacking midfield, with Nikolai Hualca Da Silva and River Faulkner leading the line as the right and left forwards.
The substitutes for Faversham included Freddie Critcher, Cass Cairns, Connor Midgley, Harrison Holbrook, and Toby Lovell, who were ready to make an impact as the match progressed.
The match began with West Wickham Junior U13 Kent taking an early lead in the 19th minute, putting Faversham on the back foot. They doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute, leaving Faversham trailing 2-0 as the first half approached its conclusion.
In a bid to respond, Faversham was forced into an early substitution when River Faulkner had to leave the pitch due to injury, making way for Freddie Critcher in the 34th minute. As the half-time whistle blew shortly after, Faversham found themselves needing to regroup and strategise for the second half.
The second half saw Faversham make further changes, with Cass Cairns replacing Ryan Cairns in the 37th minute, followed by Connor Midgley coming on for Bobby Davin just moments later. The match took a more physical turn, resulting in a yellow card issued in the 38th minute for the home team.
As the game progressed, Faversham's persistence paid off when Nikolai Hualca Da Silva scored in the 51st minute, assisted by Charlie Lyonette, igniting hope for the visitors. Just 11 minutes later, Hualca Da Silva struck again, this time with Freddie Critcher providing the assist, bringing the score to 2-2 and showcasing Faversham's fighting spirit.
Faversham continued to press for a winner, and in the 65th minute, Vinnie Rule was substituted on for Oskar Gurney, adding fresh legs to the side. Shortly after, Toby Lovell replaced Freddie Critcher in the 66th minute due to injury, as Faversham sought to maintain their momentum.
As the contest went to extra time, the decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when Connor Midgley found the back of the net, securing a dramatic turnaround for Faversham and sealing their victory at 3-2. The players celebrated their hard-fought win, with Nikolai Hualca Da Silva earning accolades for his outstanding performance, contributing significantly to the team's success.
Faversham Town KYL U13’s will take great confidence from this thrilling cup match, demonstrating their ability to overcome adversity and emerge victorious against a determined West Wickham side.
