No-nonsence Terry Cordice used the softly-softly approach to coax a  fabulous result from his Faversham Town players - but they tested his  patience to the limit. Incredibly, the Lilywhites were two goals down after just four minutes  of this British Energy Kent County League clash at Badgers Sports Ground last Saturday. Cordice must have feared the worst against the defending champions who  had not conceded a single goal at home before Saturday. But rather than rant and rave, Cordice and his assistant Peter Holder  opted for the gentle touch and the ploy paid off with Town fighting  back to secure an incredible victory. Cordice explained: "They caught us on the hop, there's no two ways  about that. It's a difficult call in circumstances like that but Pete and I kept encouraging them because we knew that if they kept cool  there was obviously a chance of goals. We could tell that after 10  minutes - we knew we could score against them. "We were telling the lads to hang in there and there would be chances  and they did that. To be fair, we can be very critical at times but we  chose the other option this time and it paid off. "Mind you, it was tempting to let rip at them. The first goal was a  great effort so I've no complaints there but we stood and watched for  the second. "Then they hit the bar! But we kept on at them to keep their composure  and stay positive and they did us proud. "We could have given them a lecture afterwards but we just told them  to go and enjoy the rest of the weekend. They showed a lot of  character to come back the way they did and were worth the win." Cordice was thrilled with the performance of 22-year-old goalkeeper  Tim Holmes whose composure under pressure was a key factor. He said: "I never like to single out individuals but Tim Holmes was  outstanding in goal. "The Cray lads roughed him up a bit. They really seemed to be  targeting him but he just kept coming back for more. "His handling of the ball in the mud and rain was superb. They  bombarded him in the last 15 minutes and a lesser keeper might have  caved in, especially after he took an elbow in the face. "Few keepers will be happy after conceding three goals but he could  not really be faulted for any of them. He was quality and my man of  the match without a doubt." Town were rocked inside two minutes when the rampant home side drew a  foul on the edge of the box and Barry Putt score a brilliant  free-kick. More punishment was to come with Matt Knuckey returning to haunt Town  following his two goals in the 2-2 draw at Salters Lane in August. The nippy forward may have been one of the smallest players on the  pitch but he capitalised on indecision in the defence to score a  cracking diving header. When Cray Valley had a shot hit the bar just second later, the shell-shocked  visitors looked like they were in for a torrid afternoon. But they stuck to their task and centre-half James Holder pulled a  goal back on the half hour with a neat chip after a flick-on from Adam  Hewitson, making his first start of the season. Then came the highlight of the match with Rikki Cable opening his box  of tricks to waltz past FIVE players on a mazy run that took him from  the halfway line all the way into the box. And he did not disappoint with the finish in what must rank as Town's  best goal of the season although he owed much to good running off the ball by John Goodwin. Town emerged from the interval in positive mood and more wizardry from  Cable saw him floored in the box after Goodwin played him in. Skipper Julian Beal scored from the penalty spot and Town looked in  total command, especially when Ross Cable came on as a sub. Rikki Cable dropped back into midfield to accommodate his brother in  attack and the duo combined well on 69 minutes for the fourth goal  with Ross providing the final touch. Valley responded with a battling finish when Holmes really came into  his own with some cracking handling between the posts. He also had to be incredibly brave with the physical home side  desperate to claw their way back into the game. Indeed, play was held up for several minutes so he could receive  attention after a stray elbow caught him in the face. Knuckey rode his luck with five minutes remaining when he made it four  goals against Town this season, throwing his side a lifeline with a  shot that took a deflection on its way past the helpless Holmes. The goal made for an incredibly tense finale but Town were not about  to let all their hard work go to waste. To have done so would have risked seeing a very different side to  manager Cordice. Town's top man: Tim Holmes - Battered, bruised but a worth winner. Tim Holmes 8; Mark Smith 7; Giacomino Vail 6; James Holder 7; Gary  Hemens 6; Gary Stock 6; Julian Beal 7; Adam Hewitson 6; John Goodwin  6; Dave Hockley 7; Rikki Cable 7; Subs Ross Cable (for Hewitson, 65) 7; Dean Wallington (for John Goodwin, 75 ) 6; Jason Mills (for  Rikki Cable, 80) 6.