United’s winning run ends with heavy defeat

United’s run of four consecutive Ryman Football League Division One South victories and six straight wins in all competitions was halted by a 4-1 loss at home to Faversham Town.

All appeared to be going to plan when United led approaching half time, but they conceded three goals in eight minutes either side of the break as the game suddenly and decisively turned on its head.

Tyrell Richardson-Brown had put United ahead in the 22nd minute with a terrific low strike from just outside the box with the outside of his right foot which went in via the inside of the post.

Although home goalkeeper Josh Pelling had pulled off a couple of decent saves from Stuart King efforts, United looked pretty comfortable on the whole until Faversham equalised in the 44th minute.

King received the ball in the left-hand side of the box and got the better of Ollie Rowe before unleashing a left-foot shot from a tight angle which went in off the far post, possibly having taken a deflection off Rowe.

Faversham came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second period and took command of the contest with two more goals in quick succession as United barely ventured out of their own half.

King put the visitors ahead in the 48th minute with a close range finish after Matthew Bourne’s header from a George Monger corner was parried by Pelling.

Three minutes later it was 3-1 following a horrible moment for the United goalkeeper. Jamie Maxted’s long range effort slipped through the fingers of Pelling, who has been in outstanding form of late.

United seldom really looked like getting back into it, although things might have turned out differently had Faversham defender Ryan Cooper not effected a splendid goal-line clearance to deny Jack Harris a goal against his former club.

Richardson-Brown shot just wide of the near post, while at the other end, Monger fired narrowly over, and King saw one attempt tipped over by Pelling and a fiercely struck free kick flash just too high.

Any lingering hopes United might have harboured were extinguished by a fourth Faversham goal in the 86th minute. Jerome Smith was adjudged to have bundled over King near the byeline and although the impressive striker’s subsequent penalty was saved by Pelling, King made no mistake with the rebound.

United: Pelling, Crabb (Medlock 72), Cruttwell, Rowe, Ray, Smith, Richardson-Brown, Adams, Harris (Temba 78), Johnson, Cumming-Bart (Vickers 78). Subs not used: Hall, Hollobone. Attendance: 260.

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