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Faversham Town boss Tommy Warrilow remains level-headed in faltering title bid; Lilywhites out of Challenge Cup after 2-1 Quarter-Final loss against Corinthian in midweek

Manager Tommy Warrilow is remaining level-headed in Faversham’s faltering title bid.

Town are firm outsiders in the race to become 2023/24 Southern Counties East Premier Division champions after they were beaten 2-0 by frontrunners Glebe last weekend in Warrilow’s first home match since he took charge.

Matt Newman puts a foot in for Faversham in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to frontrunners Glebe. Picture: Randolph File
Matt Newman puts a foot in for Faversham in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to frontrunners Glebe. Picture: Randolph File

The second-placed Lilywhites are now four points behind Glebe while the three teams below them - Corinthian, Deal and Bearsted - have matches in hand.

But there are 15 games to go for Faversham and Warrilow knows plenty can still change at the top-end of the table if they can gather some momentum.

He said: “I have been here for just over a week! We have won one and lost one (in the league).

“If you can put a three or four-game run together, it changes again. But I cannot do anything about what happens below us.

“They have got games in hand and have got to play them. If they win them, they win them. If they lose them, they lose them.

Faversham midfielder Billy Bingham is closely tracked. Picture: Randolph File
Faversham midfielder Billy Bingham is closely tracked. Picture: Randolph File

“We just have to concentrate on what we’re doing here. At the moment, we have got to accept any criticism that comes our way - because that wasn’t good enough on Saturday.

“But there’s still 15 league games to go and our main objective is to get out of this league.

“I know there’s a long way to go. Let’s see where we are at the end of the season and who is jumping up and down.”

Warrilow’s first home game was about as tough as it will get on paper for Faversham - and so it proved, striker Jamie Philpot and defender Reece Barrett getting the goals to consign them to defeat at Salters Lane.

But the new boss denied suggestions the top-of-the-table encounter came too soon during his time in charge.

Report: Faversham 0-2 Glebe

“Not at all,” he stated. “We won the previous weekend (2-1) at Rusthall.

“With the players we have got and the experience we have got, we’re miles better than that.

“So, we have got to accept the criticism as a team - that includes us as management.”

Warrilow is open to bolstering Town’s squad - despite midfielder Sam Hasler now having returned from a ban - but won’t rush to do so.

He explained: “We’ll give people chances.

Glebe's veteran defender Jamie Coyle is closed down by Faversham frontman Warren Mfula. Picture: Randolph File
Glebe's veteran defender Jamie Coyle is closed down by Faversham frontman Warren Mfula. Picture: Randolph File

“At the moment, I’m not going to commit to saying ‘Yeah, we need this, this and this.’ If anything comes up at any football club and would help you improve, you sit down and address it.

“It’s not the biggest of squads, is it? We’ve pulled Ollie Gray back but the one thing I’m not going to do is have a massive overreaction to Saturday’s game.”

Faversham’s next league match is a trip to mid-table Fisher this Saturday - a side who had made a bright start to the campaign, prior to a 5-0 loss at Salters Lane in September - with a coachload of away fans set to make the trip to the St Paul’s Sports Ground.

“Fisher away is not going to be a stroll in the park,” warned Warrilow, whose side visit Deal on Tuesday in another huge match.

“Anyone thinking we will just turn up there and it’ll be like that, then they’re wrong.

“But in this league - I don’t care who we are playing - we just have to do what we do.

“One thing we have got to do is be a heck of a lot better.”

Town lost their Challenge Cup Quarter-Final 2-1 at Corinthian on Tuesday.

Hasler netted in fine fashion on his return to give them a half-time lead, but goals by Jamie Billings and Charlie Clover inside five minutes flipped the game on its head.

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