Faversham Town 3 Sittingbourne 3 match report: Late show from Matt Newman, Tashi-Jay Kwayie and Ethan Smith snatches Lilywhites Isthmian South East draw after Jack Steventon, Bagasan Graham and Derek Asamoah put Brickies in charge

Resilient Faversham Town battled back in incredible style to take a point from their top-six Isthmian South East match against Sittingbourne on Saturday.

It looked bleak for Tommy Warrilow’s Lilywhites, who trailed 2-0 by half-time to goals from defender Jack Steventon and skipper Bagasan Graham, before veteran striker Derek Asamoah’s second-half penalty looked to have sealed the points for the Brickies.

But Town substitute Matt Newman had a real impact in an incredible turnaround.

He scored the first - on 80 minutes - and was involved in midfielder Ethan Smith’s stoppage-time goal, with an effort from top scorer Tashi-Jay Kwayie sandwiched in between, as it ended 3-3 at Salters Lane.

The hosts had created the first of many fruitless first-half opportunities when wideman Kieron Campbell stung keeper Jamie Grossart’s palms inside 90 seconds.

Five minutes later, Sittingbourne’s Graham blazed high and wide on an unseasonably warm day, having advanced from left-back, before Town defender Dexter Peter shot over from a Campbell free-kick.

Town controlled much of the first half and again went close twice in quick succession.

Left-back Frankie Smith whistled an effort inches wide from a lay-off by playmaker Nathan Wood with 21 minutes played before Grossart parried a strike by midfielder Ethan Smith.

Two minutes later, Kwayie, somehow, missed the target from Frankie Smith’s delivery for the Lilywhites.

Faversham went even closer as a shot by midfielder Ethan Smith hit the post and debutant George Evans screwed the rebound wide shortly before the half-hour mark.

Reece Prestedge’s team finally threatened former keeper Mitchell Beeney but the 30-year-old was out quickly to thwart midfielder Luke Woodward on 36 minutes.

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