Cup Semi v The Brickies

[shoutymark]

Right. Just about thawed out from Saturday and the biting wind blowin in off Whitstable Bay. (Or was that the biting wind, whilst downing a pint of Whitstable Bay? Both, probably).
And now we are back in action as Cup Fever hits Faversham.

Yes, we are just ninety minutes away from an historic cup final appearance.
Can you almost smell the onions of the hot dog stands down Wemberley Way?
Can you almost see the flags a fluttering atop the famous twin towers of Wemberley Stadium?
And all that stands between us and a day to remember up in London HA9 - home to Bobby Moore and the Jules Rimet Trophy; to Gazza flat on his back with his squirty celebrations; to Stanley Matthews on his white horse clearing the crowds from the pitch - who can forget such iconic images? - all that stands between us and all that, is one match with our Swaleside neighbours Sittingbourne.

This is likely to be a right humdinger.
Both teams really up for the fight.
After all, it is a truism that no-one remembers the losing semi-finalists.
Indeed, last year's losing semi-finalists.... actually, I've forgotten who that was.

So, let's turn out in force.
Let's create the famous Alan Turvey atmosphere that we've all grown to love.

And let's leave with the prospect of a Cup Final at Wemberley* as a season finale.

Oh Yes!






* [Late News: Turns out the final is to be played in Carshalton. Which is similar to Wemberley. And probably better.] 

[4500x]

Kingstonian won other semi final on penalties

[FAV Army]

Full-time score: Faversham Town 3 (Harvey, King and Robertson) Sittingbourne 0.

Final - here we come.

FAV Army!

[CJK]

Link to match video . . . youtu.be/ou6DYgGTalQ

[chestfield]

Hmm - My other non-league team is also in a final: Eastbourne Boro in the Sussex Senior Cup against Worthing

[shoutymark]

As performances go, I thought that Tuesday night's was up there with the very best.
The passing and link up play was absolutely spot on all over the pitch. We kept bringing the ball down, holding it up, and then playing the decisive short ball through to the waiting man - who knew it would be coming. There was a real sense of understanding between key players in every position - and the lay offs in the middle and front thirds of the pitch were a joy to watch.
Then there were some specific moments, like the time Luke tracked back along the line, well into the defensive half, to rob the ball from two Sittingbourne players and not only shut down their progress but set up another attack which shortly after led to he second goal. Or John Scarborough majestically controlling the area in front of the box. Bossing it properly. A penalty save that literally kept the momentum of the game on track. I could go on. And hopefully Dave will, in his (as yet unpublished) match report and analysis. (Get on with it, Dave!)
For me, this was proper evidence of the class we have within the team. Young blood coming good. Really good. Experience getting even better as it matures. And a work ethic to support each other, to cover, to lay off, to make the lung bursting run that creates space for your teammate. Unselfish, effective play.
It was a pleasure to watch.
And I look forward to watching more on Saturday.

(And a mention for the groundstaff. The quality of the pitch made all the difference. After the lumps and bumps of Whitstable, the playing surface at Salters Lane meant that we could play the ball on the ground and take advantage of our greater skill and touch. It's not just the players that make this club great.)