Folkestone Invicta (1) 3 Newport IoW (0) 0

RM May 01, 2004 Attendance 322.

Folkestone Invicta completed another long, hard season with victory as two goals from James Dryden and one from 16-year-old substitute Oliver Waters gave them a final day win over Newport (Isle of Wight) at a sunny Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Playing their 61st match of the season, Invicta ended a run of nine matches without a win as they repeated the 3-0 win achieved on the Isle of Wight back in March.

Dryden had ended a barren spell of 15 games without a goal on that occasion and led the way again with two more goals before collecting the Supporters' Player of the Year award after the game.

And Waters was to re-write the club's record books as he became the youngest player to score a Dr Martens League goal for Invicta on his first league outing.

John Ayling remains the youngest player to score a senior goal for Invicta as his April 1998 goal in the Kent League against Greenwich Borough came at the age of 16 years and 40 days, five days ahead of Waters' landmark goal.

And Ayling came into the starting line up on Saturday at the last minute as a result of a warm up injury to centre half John Guest. Ayling has signed a new contract for Invicta but his hoping to embark on a two-year scholarship in the USA and his many fans will be hoping that this was not the last sight of him in Invicta colours.

Though still clearly not fully fit after his ankle ligament injury on the Isle of Wight back in March, Ayling still showed glimpses of his unique talent.

It was Ayling who created the game's first real chance when striker Lee Blackman shot wide on the quarter of an hour mark and Ayling himself shot tamely at stand-in goalkeeper Justin Hughes in the 22nd minute after showing great footwork when receiving the ball from Dryden.

Hughes normally plays on the pitch for Newport but had come in for injured goalkeeper Joe McCormack.

Newport had a good chance after 23 minutes when Chris Bridges was given on-side through the middle, but goalkeeper Tony Kessell saved and the ball looped over the Invicta crossbar for a corner.

Blackman shot just wide from inside the box after 27 minutes, but Invicta were ahead after 34 minutes when DRYDEN slotted the ball into the corner of the net when Ayling played him in.

Dryden came desperately close to scoring again after 36 minutes when he latched onto a through ball but saw his shot come back off the underside of the crossbar.

Invicta were close again after 39 minutes when Hughes clawed an Adam Flanagan header away when Paul Lamb played the ball in from the right after Ayling had played the ball out wide.

Newport threatened again after 42 minutes when Jamie White's 35-yard strike hit the Invicta crossbar.

At the other end, Flanagan shot just wide when Anthony Hogg played the ball in from the left after 44 minutes.

Micheal Everitt made a good saving tackle to deny White after 47 minutes and Danny Hatcher shot into the side netting when a ball over the defence had Invicta in trouble after 59 minutes.

But Invicta regained the initiative and Blackman headed at Hughes from substitute Darren Winfield's left wing cross after 68 minutes.

Blackman's involvement was ended after 72 minutes when a bodycheck from Newport substitute Simon Pilcher left him groggy with pain in his throat and collarbone and resulted in the game's only booking.

The home side finished with a flourish as DRYDEN headed in a Lamb cross from the left to make it 2-0after 84 minutes when the striker had himself initially played the ball out wide to the full back.

And WATERS opened his account for the club when he held his nerve to score after Dryden had nodded the ball through to send him away down the middle in the 89th minute in a move started by Everitt.

Everitt had himself been the previous youngest player to score a Dr Martens League goal for Invicta when he scored on his league debut as a substitute against Bashley in August 1999 at the age of 16 years and 10 months.

Goalkeeper Kessell kept his 20th clean sheet of a season during which he played in all of Invicta's 61 matches, the first Invicta player to complete a season as an ever present since big Carlton Wynter in the 1997-98 season.

Invicta's assistant manager Lee Dyson got his second outing of the season, both against Newport, as a late substitute for Blackman.

And 19-year-old John Walker, who had made his debut on the Isle of Wight back in March, again caught the eye in only his fourth staritng appearance.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Walker, Lamb, Flanagan, Ayling (Waters 60 mins), Everitt, Chandler (Winfield 54 mins), Munday, Dryden, Blackman (Dyson 77 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Guest, Mann.
NEWPORT (Isle of Wight): Hughes, Buckman, Wood, Pilcher, Holmes (Isaacson 60 mins), White, Stevens, Youngs (Thorpe 88 mins), Bridges (Rayner 69 mins), Hatcher, Perry. Unused sub: McCormack.

Folkestone Invicta (1) 1 Margate (0) 2

RM Apr 28, 2004 Attendance 754.

Folkestone Invicta suffered cup final heartbreak for the sixth successive time when they went down 2-1 at home to Conference side Margate in the John Ullman Kent Senior Cup Final at the Westbourne Stadium on Wednesday night.

Invicta had led 1-0 at half time thanks to a Martin Chandler penalty just before half time, but holders Margate equalised with an Adrian Clarke penalty of their own after 55 minutes and John Keister hit the winner after 83 minutes.

Invicta, beaten finalists in both1999 and 2000, gave a good account of themselves against a Margate side who were disappointing during the first half on a poor pitch.

Neil Cugley's small squad was stretched to the limit with the absence of suspended captain Scott Lindsey and 19-year-old John Walker came in for his first home starting appearance at right back and Lee Blackman enjoyed a rare start alongside James Dryden in attack.

And the home side started well as Chandler shot wide on the turn when a long Dryden throw in from the right hand side came back out to him on the edge of the box.

Chandler shot at goalkeeper Phil Smith again a minute later following a move involving the composed Walker and Micheal Everitt.

Dryden then let fly at Smith from outside the penalty area after 19 minutes as Invicta's confidence grew.

Margate's Darren Annon was booked for a trip on Chandler after 35 minutes. And Annon was lucky to stay on the pitch a minute later for his part in a flare up which resulted in a booking for Invicta striker Blackman as he retaliated after another foul from the Margate full back.

Invicta opened the scoring after 44 minutes when CHANDLER hit his penalty down the middle following a challenge by goalkeeper Smith on Blackman.

Margate had not had a shot on target during the opening 45 minutes, but the game was to open up after the interval.

Drytden shot into the side netting after 50 minutes when Chandler played him in following a great run through the visiting defence in the best move of the match thus far. A second Invicta goal then might well have proved to be decisive.

But Margate equalised after 54 minutes when CLARKE scored from the penalty spot when Walker was adjudged to brought down Jean-Michel Sigere. Former Margate player Paul Lamb was booked for his protests by poor referee Tony Mason from Sidcup who had too much influence on the game.

Walker recovered to make a saving tackle on Sigere after 67 minutes when Rocky Baptiste put him through after an underhit back pass from John Guest put goalkeeper Tony Kessell in trouble moments after Margate goalkeeper Smith had completely missed the ball at the other end.

Margate's winner came in the 84th minute when Sierra Leone international KEISTER turned the ball in when Baptiste's mis-hit shot fell to him after Clarke's deep cross from the left flank.

Invicta brought on 16-year-old substitute Oliver Waters for his first senior outing after 86 minutes.

And the home side nearly saved the day during injury time when the tireless Dryden shot agonisingly wide across goal from the right hand side of the box.

Margate's match-winner Keister was chosen as man of the match as the visitors collected the trophy on the pitch at the end of the game.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Walker (Waters 86 mins), Lamb, Guest, Flanagan, Everitt, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Blackman (Ayling 69 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Winfield, Dyson, Mann.
MARGATE: Smith, Oakes, Annon, Edwards, Clarke, Porter, Keister, Baptiste (Pulman 87 mins), Leberl, Sigere, Saunders. Unused subs: Stodhart, Watson, Abbott.

Banbury Utd (2) 4 Folkestone Invicta (1) 3

RM Apr 24, 2004 Attendance 413.

An injury time winner from substitute Mark Simms condemned Folkestone Invicta to defeat as they lost by the odd goal in seven in their last away match of the season at Banbury on Saturday afternoon.

The defeat means that Invicta go into their Kent Senior Cup Final at home to Margate on the back of a run of eight matches without a win.

For Banbury, Simms' late winner was crucial in maintaining the Puritans' own promotion hopes at a sunny Spencer Stadium.

Invicta went into the game with their small squad again stretched to the limit as John Walker came into the starting line up in place of Drew Watkins who is now out for the remaining few games of the season after sustaining an injury during the midweek defeat at Eastleigh.

But the visitors got off to the best possible start as striker James DRYDEN opened the scoring after just two minutes when he let fly from 20 yards for his 22nd goal of the season.

But Banbury were level on the quarter of an hour mark when Wayne BLOSSOM capitalised on an error from goalkeeper Tony Kessell to hook the ball home following a corner from the right hand side.

Invicta responded well and went close through Anthony Hogg, John Guest and Dryden, who shot just wide when put through by Micheal Everitt after 34 minutes.

But the home side went 2-1 up after 41 minutes when Blossom combined with top goalscorer George REDKNAP to allow the latter to take advantage of some uncertain Invicta defending.

The visitors replaced captain Scott Lindsey and midfielder Martin Chandler with strikers John Ayling and Lee Blackman at half time.

And Invicta were level after 52 minutes when Mark MUNDAY was credited with his second goal in consecutive matches in a goalmouth melee following a corner, though some say that substitute Ayling got the final touch.

Banbury went 3-2 up when Ady FULLER beat Kessell from the penalty spot after 57 minutes following a handball by centre half Adam Flanagan when Ollie Stanbridge hit an overhead kick towards goal.

Munday had an effort cleared off the line by midfielder Stanbridge before AYLING made it 3-3 after 63 minutes when he beat goalkeeper Simon Tricker with a low strike into the bottom left hand corner.

Tricker made another good late save to deny Ayling and fellow substitute Blackman also had a chance to snatch it for Invicta after 86 minutes.

But there was to be a final twist with SIMMS' late winner as he latched onto David Billington's free kick to fire home in off the post and set up a tense final day of the season for Banbury who could still pip Stamford for an automatic promotion place or at least need a point to secure their place in the play offs.

Invicta's Walker was booked for a foul towards the end of the game.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Guest, Flanagan, Lindsey (Blackman 45 mins), Chandler (Ayling 45 mins), Munday, Dryden, Walker, Hogg. Unused subs: Dyson, Egan.

Eastleigh (1) 2 Folkestone Invicta (1) 1

RM Apr 21, 2004 Attendance 194.

Two goals from the Dr Martens League's leading goalscorer Paul Sales condemned Folkestone Invicta to defeat as they went down 2-1 away to fourth-placed Eastleigh on a wet pitch at the Sparshatt Stadium on Wednesday night.

Eastleigh thus join fellow Hampshire club Bashley as the two teams to have completed a league 'double' over Invicta this season following their win by the same scoreline at the Westbourne Stadium back in September.

This was a competitive encounter and not any sort of end-of-season stroll between two sides who had already been promoted with disappointing home results at the weekend.

SALES opened the scoring after 29 minutes when he hit a low shot into the net after 29 minutes when Neil Davis dinked the ball in to striker Jamie Stokoe and it came back out to Sales.

Invicta were level in the 43rd minute when Mark MUNDAY put the ball in after John Guest's header had appeared to have already crossed the line before being cleared away following a Martin Chandler corner form the left.

The corner had been won as a result of a fine fingertip save from burly home goalkeeper Wayne Shaw to keep out a James Dryden shot when the striker had been put clean through by Anthony Hogg in a move started by captain Scott Lindsey.

But Eastleigh restored their lead when SALES headed home substitute Sam Carter's cross from the right hand side in the 51st minute.

Invicta went into the game with Drew Watkins and John Ayling in the starting line up for Adam Flanagan (work commitments) and Steve Lawrence, with Micheal Everitt pushing up into midfield.

Eastleigh had the game's first real chance after just three minutes when Stokoe was given on-side and left one-on-one with goalkeeper Tony Kessell, only for Lindsey to clear off the line.

Stokoe then shot against the crossbar when put through again after 12 minutes as Eastleigh broke following Invicta's first corner of the game at the other end.

Just after Sales' opening goal, Invicta goalkeeper Kessell flew across to his right to push another Sales shot round the post for a corner when Tyronne Bowers broke down the right hand side and played the ball across to his one-time Salisbury team mate.

But Invicta were to equalise and the two sides went in level at half time after Eastleigh's Ryan Ashford had shot just over from 30 yards right on the stroke of the interval.

Invicta replaced Watkins with teenager John Walker for the second half, but were soon behind again.

Dryden headed just wide from a Paul Lamb free kick deep on the left hand side after 70 minutes as Invicta chased an equaliser.

But Ashford chipped just wide with a clever piece of skill at the other end after 72 minutes when he combined well with Sales down the left.

It was end-to-end stuff as a Hogg shot was touched round the post for a corner at one end after 77 minutes and Eastleigh broke down the other end as substitute Robbie Matthews shot at Kessell after getting in behind Lamb following Chandler's subsequent corner.

Big Matthews was denied by a great double save from Kessell after 83 minutes and substitute Walker cleared a third effort from close to the line. That came moments after Invicta had themselves had an effort cleared from close to the Eastleigh line.

Invicta's Lee Blackman played the ball across the Eastleigh goal mouth and just ahead of striking partner Dryden after 84 minutes when a great ball from Walker sent him away down the right hand side.

Davis shot into the side netting from outside the penalty area for Eastleigh after 88 minutes as the home side took the points.

Invicta's Chandler was the only name taken by female referee Janie Frampton for dissent after Dryden had been fouled in the 38th minute.

EASTLEIGH: Shaw, Wyeth, Warren, Bright, Collins, Davis, Bowers (Carter 45 mins), Woods, Sales, Stokoe (Matthews 75 mins), Ashford. Unused subs: Richardson, Beck.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Watkins (Walker 45 mins), Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Ayling (Blackman 65 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Dyson, Egan.

Folkestone Invicta (1) 1 Burnham (0) 1

RM Apr 17, 2004 Attendance 326.

1 Draw specialists Folkestone Invicta were held again as they could only draw 1-1 at home to Burnham at the Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Defeats elsewhere for Banbury United and Bashley mean that Invicta are guaranteed a top seven finish and promotion when the non-league constitution is re-structured during the summer.

But this was to be another disappointing afternoon for Neil Cugley's side who have now drawn 15 league matches this season and have now gone six matches without a win.

Invicta opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Anthony HOGG fired the ball into the net after being put through down the middle by Mark Munday.

But Burnham grew in confidence as the game went on and equalised in the 80th minute when Jon HORSTED got the slightest of touches ahead of Invicta captain Scott Lindsey when Alex Toley played the ball in from the right hand side.

Invicta had started well enough as striker James Dryden shot wide across goal after just 52 seconds.

Burnham goalkeeper Steven Smith recovered to keep out a Dryden header at the far post in the 17th minute after initially giving the ball away to Steve Lawrence on the left hand side of the box.

The visitors came straight back down the other end after the Invicta goal and Horsted whipped in a dangerous cross from the left which flew just in front of Toley in the middle.

Invicta had Micheal Eveirtt to thank after 44 minutes when the hard-working right back made a saving tackle on Steve Lockhart inside the penalty area.

The biggest cheer of the second half for home supporters came when John Ayling was brought on after 54 minutes for his first appearance since injury ankle ligaments on the Isle of Wight at the start of March. But not even Ayling could conjure up any magic formula for Invicta on this occasion.

Referee D. Buck did his best to enliven proceedings as he sent Burnham manager Steve Mellor to the stands after 61 minutes, having earlier had words with Invicta manager Cugley on the touchline during the first half.

A good long range shot from Tom Nutter flew just over the Invicta crossbar after 62 minutes, while at the other end goalscorer Hogg shot over after 69 minutes as Invicta pressed for a second goal.

Daryl Jones headed just wide following a Burnham corner from the right after 77 minutes, but the visitors were soon to level the scores.

Burnham goalscorer Horsted was the game's only booking for a foul on Everitt after 71 minutes.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Lawrence (Ayling 54 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Watkins, Blackman, Walker, Dyson.
BURNHAM: Smith, Braich (Brown 72 mins), Brett, Horsted, Emms, Nutter, Logie, Ferdinand, Jones, Lockhart, Toley (Cannon 86 mins). Unused sub: Elliott.

Folkestone Invicta (0) 0 Erith & Belvedere (0) 0

RM Apr 12, 2004 Attendance 343.

Folkestone Invicta captain Scott Lindsey will miss the John Ullman Kent Senior Cup Final against Margate on April 28th after being sent off in Easter Monday's drab goalless draw at home to Erith and Belvedere.

Lindsey was dismissed after 78 minutes when he received a straight red card for catching Ray Aboyage with a flaying arm as the players jumped for an aerial ball close to the half way line.

The incident livened up an otherwise typical end-of-season affair as a hard pitch and tired players combined to contribute to the stalemate. Invicta have now drawn 14 league games this season - more than any other side in the Eastern Division - while the hard-earned point was not enough to save Erith who are now condemned to a bottom two finish this season.

And while Invicta will have been pleased to draw 2-2 away to Histon on Easter Saturday, this was to be an afternoon of frustration.

Invicta welcomed Adam Flanagan and Drew Watkins back into their starting line up in place of John Walker and Martin Chandler, while Steve Lawrence retained his place as he started a home game for the first time since March 2001.

Erith have recently appointed a new manager in Kevin Hales and brought in several new players and it was the visitors who had the better chances during the first half.

Striker Darren Adams forced the first real save of the game from Tony Kessell when he shot on the turn after 20 minutes.

And Dean Standen missed a virtual open goal after 26 minutes when another defensive mix up involving Lindsey allowed the on-loan from Welling United player to get in behind goalkeeper Kessell.

At the other end, Anthony Hogg shot over when the ball fell to him inside the box after 36 minutes.

But Erith missed another gilt-edged chance after 41 minutes when Adams lobbed wide when put through down the middle after Invicta had given the ball away in midfield.

Centre half Adam Flanagan headed a Watkins corner from the left over after 48 minutes, but Kessell was called into action again when Adams shot from the edge of the box after 57 minutes.

Hogg shot at goalkeeper Robbie Elliott when he received the ball from substitute Chandler on the edge of the penalty area after 64 minutes.

And Elliott denied James Dryden after 68 minutes when the goalkeeper saved Invicta's best chance of the afternoon with his feet when Hogg flicked on a Kessell clearance to put the striker through down the middle.

Lindsey's dismissal raised the passions of the crowd and Erith striker Akpo Sodje was booked after 83 minutes for a late challenge on Micheal Everitt.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Watkins (Chandler 59 mins), Munday, Dryden, Lawrence (Blackman 67 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Walker, Dyson, Egan.
ERITH and BELVEDERE: Elliott, Tozer, Taylor, Verlesi, S. Sodje (Tarrant 77 mins), Briggs, Aboyage, Standen (Rickets 39 mins), Adams, A. Sodje. Lorraine. Unused sub: Seitsonen.

Histon (1) 2 Folkestone Invicta (2) 2

RM Apr 10, 2004 Attendance 307.

Two goals from James Dryden gave Folkestone Invicta a share of the spoils in Easter Saturday's top-of-the-table clash away to championship-chasing Histon.

Dryden twice put Neil Cugley's side ahead but Invicta had to survive a second half onslaught from the home side and held on for a point when a linesman's flag ruled out what Histon thought was an injury time winner from Ian Cambridge.

DRYDEN opened the scoring after 22 minutes when he tapped in Anthony Hogg's low cross from the left when a well-worked move played the midfielder in.

But Histon were level just four minutes later when Adrian CAMBRIDGE drilled the ball home after James Rowe's cross from the right was chested back out to him by Invicta defender John Guest.

DRYDEN restored Invicta's lead on the half hour when he got a touch at the near post to Paul Lamb's corner from the right.

Invicta's second goal was poor defending on Histon's part, but the visitors were to gift the Stutes their second equaliser after 48 minutes.

Captain Scott Lindsey played the ball back to Tony Kessell and as Lindsey awaited the ball back, the goalkeeper's attempted pass was closed down by Ian CAMBRIDGE who had the simple task of walking the ball into an empty net.

Histon then put Invicta under considerable pressure before Invicta rallied towards the end, only for the linesman's dramatic late intervention to curtail home celebrations.

Invicta had welcomed striker Steve Lawrence back into the side just over three years after his last appearance for the club when he had his leg broken at Merthyr Tydfil. Lawrence, now 29, is obviously short of match fitness but showed typical perseverance to win the corner which led to Invicta's second goal.

And 19-year-old John Walker made his full debut at right back to become the 200th different player to start a league match for Invicta since the club joined the Kent League at the start of the 1991-92 season. This was a big test for Walker and one which he passed with flying colours.

Histon captain Neil Andrews headed wide with the game's first real chance after 12 minutes when Adrian Cambridge's cross from the right was headed on in the middle.

Ian Cambridge showed his class after 53 minutes when he attempted to lob Kessell from 25 yards but the goalkeeper backtracked to touch the ball over for Histon's first corner of the game.

Kessell touched the ball over the crossbar again after 55 minutes from Rowe when Jamie Barker played him in down the left.

Histon were close again after 57 minutes when Rowe headed over when Adrian Cambridge picked substitute Neil Coburn out on the right flank.

Rowe then scooped the bal over the crossbar on the hour when Adrian Cambridge's long throw in came over from the left and eluded the under pressure Kessell.

Invicta had a chance after 82 minutes when Hogg was fouled right on the edge of the penalty area. Chandler touched the free kick but and Hogg's shot was blocked inside the penalty area which led to a melee in the Histon goalmouth during which both Michael Everitt and Dryden tried to force the ball over the line.

Histon substitute Neil Kennedy was booked for dissent when Cambridge's injury time 'goal' was ruled out for offside. Invicta's Chandler, Lamb and John Guest had earlier been booked by referee Michael George.

HISTON: Barber, Farrington, Haniver (Coburn 45 mins), Hipperson, Vowden, A. Cambridge, Goddard, Andrews, Rowe (Kennedy 57 mins), I. Cambridge, Barker. Unused subs: Munns, Holden, Mintus.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Walker, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Lawrence, Hogg. Unused subs: Watkins, Winfield, Flanagan, Dyson, Egan.

Sittingbourne (1)2 Folkestone Invicta (1) 1

RM Apr 03, 2004 Attendance 271.

After going 24 Dr Martens League Eastern Division matches unbeaten, Folkestone Invicta were beaten for the second time in five days when they went down 2-1 away to Sittingbourne in Saturday's Kent derby at Bourne Park despite taking an early lead through Paul Lamb.

It was to be an extraordinary day in the Eastern Division as the top three of Tonbridge Angels, King's Lynn and Histon also all lost and Invicta slipped to fifth place in the table as they were overtaken by Salisbury, who won 2-0 away to King's Lynn.

Neil Cugley's side had got off to a dream start when LAMB's free kick after just three minutes flew through a crowded goalmouth and into the net past goalkeeper Kevin Fewell. The former Margate full back had played at Bourne Park for Sittingbourne's groundsharers Maidstone United earlier in the season and had seemingly set his side up nicely.

But it was not be and the Brickies equalised on the half hour mark through captain Jamie Coyle before grabbing a dramatic late winner through James Campbell after 86 minutes.

Invicta had hoped to clinch promotion via a top seven finish with victories over Bashley and Sittingbourne and while the Folkestone side should still comfortably achieve their objective of a top-seven finish, their league season is in danger of petering out.

Invicta had gone into the game with an unchanged line up after striker John Ayling failed a fitness test following his recent ankle ligament injury.

Lamb's goal was the perfect start for Invicta and Anthony Hogg shot wide after 24 minutes. Three minutes later, striker James Dryden went round goalkeeper Fewell but his shot was cleared off the line by Campbell.

Having survived that scare, Sittingbourne were level after 29 minutes when COYLE headed in at the far post following a corner from one-time Invicta player Paul Manning.

And Sittingbourne were nearly ahead after 36 minutes when former Dover Athletic youngster Michael Smissen saw his header cleared off the line from another Manning corner.

Manning himself lobbed wide when he saw Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell off his line after 51 minutes, while Martin Chandler broke through at the other end two minutes later but his shot was deflected off Dean Yorath and Dryden headed over.

And it was the home side who took all three points when CAMPBELL headed in from a Kieran Marsh free kick.

Both Chandler and centre half Adam Flanagan went close to saving the day for Invicta during stoppage time, but this time there was to be no way back.

There were bookings for Sittingbourne captain Jamie Coyle and for Invicta centre half John Guest, playing against his old club. SITTINGBOURNE: Fewell, Taylor, Yorath, Berry, Ainsworth, Campbell, Coyle, Marsh, Neal, Smissen, Manning. Subs: Cory (used), Marshall, Ashmore, Douglas (used), Williams.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Watkins (Blackman 76 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Walker, Dyson, Ayling, Egan.

Folkestone Invicta (1) 1 Bashley (1) 2

RM Mar 30, 2004 Attendance 354.

Folkestone Invicta's 24-match unbeaten run in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division came to an end as Bashley became the first side to complete a league 'double' over Neil Cugley's side at the Westbourne Stadium on Tuesday night.

Invicta's long run had begun after a 3-0 defeat at Bashley in the New Forest back in November and the Hampshire club kept up their hopes of promotion via a top seven finish by recording their first ever win at Cheriton Road.

Bashley opened the scoring after 29 minutes when Richard GILLESPIE got the final touch after Dave Wakefield got just before goalkeeper Tony Kessell to close down a back pass.

Invicta were level after 41 minutes when James Dryden intercepted a weak back at the other end and put Martin CHANDLER through for the midfielder to hit his third goal in three consecutive matches in off the post.

But Bashley's winner came after 64 minutes when Graeme Gee put Stuart CANNIE through the middle and the striker rifled his shot into the back of the net.

Unlike Saturday's late escape against King's Lynn, this time there was to be no way back for Invicta.

The home side had made a positive start as Chandler shot wide from the right hand side of the box within the opening minute and Dryden shot into the side netting from the left hand side after just three minutes.

For Bashley, Gary Connolly's deep free kick from the right had Kessell stretching after four minutes.

But Invicta were close again after five minutes when Anthony Hogg's shot from outside the penalty area came back off the post.

It was a wide open start to the game and Bashley defender Mat Jones headed a Wakefield free kick from the left wide after eight minutes.

Gillespie got in between the Invicta defence and forced a corner from the right hand side after 16 minutes, while at the other end Dryden shot wide from the left hand side when Mark Munday put him through after 21 minutes.

Invicta thought that they had levelled Bashley's opening goal when Micheal Everitt put the ball into the net after 33 minutes when goalkeeper David Elm punched the ball away following a goalmouth scramble. But the home side were aggrieved when the 'goal' was ruled out by a linesman's flag.

And you began to wonder whether it was going to be one of those nights for the Folkestone side when Elm saved a hHogg shot after 35 minutes following a pass from Chandler.

Invicta goalkeeper Kessell saved with his feet to deny Gillespie when he got in behind Paul Lamb after 51 minutes.

But the home side pressed forward themselves and Drew Watkins shot at Elm from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute.

It was still end-to-end as within a minute Bashley's Gee shot over from the edge of the penalty area when big captain Danny Gibbons touched Wakefield's ball from the left back to him.

Dryden headed a Watkins cross from the right just wide of the post after 55 minutes following good play from Chandler on the left and a Watkins free kick curled just over the crossbar after a foul on Chandler in the 61st minute.

Bashley's second goal had Invicta chasing the game and striker Lee Blackman replaced defender Scott Lindsey after 80 minutes to signal the home side's intent.

Lamb's shot was touched away and onto the post by Elm in the 88th minute following a good touch by Blackman, but a linesman's flag would once again have denied Invicta in any case.

There were bookings for Invicta's Hogg and for Bashley's Wakefield and Neil Morant.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey (Blackman 80 mins), Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Watkins, Hogg. Unused sub: Walker, Dyson, Winfield, Egan.
BASHLEY: Elm, Morant, Lisk, Connolly, Jones, Darnton, Gee, Gibbons, Cannie, Gillespie, Wakefield. Unused subs: Stubbs, Blackmore, Keeping, Harval.

Folkestone Invicta (1) 2 King's Lynn (0) 2

RM Mar 27, 2004 Attendance 555.

A 90th minute penalty from Martin Chandler preserved Folkestone Invicta's long Dr Martens League Eastern Division record as Saturday's top-of-the-table clash against King's Lynn finished in a 2-2 draw in front of a 555 crowd at a sunnyWestbourne Stadium.

Invicta had played very well during the first half and took an early lead through James Dryden, but ran out of steam after the interval and fell 2-1 down before Chandler saved the day.

Neil Cugley's side have now gone 24 matches unbeaten in the Eastern Division as they denied championship-chasing King's Lynn victory with a last-ditch goal for the second time this season.

Invicta came flying out of the blocks on Saturday and opened the scoring after just four minutes when DRYDEN capitalised on a stray back pass from King's Lynn captain Glen Fuff and confidently slotted the ball past goalkeeper Steve Wilson after a Scott Lindsey ball out of defence.

It was Dryden's sixth goal in six matches since the departure of top goalscorer Allan Tait and after a barren spell of 15 games without a goal at the turn of the year.

It nearly got even better for Invicta after just six minutes when Anthony Hogg's 25-yard shot struck the King's Lynn crossbar.

Hogg was close again after 14 minutes when his shot from the edge of the penalty area was cleared off the line by Richard Woodrow when Chandler's corner from the left was initially headed on at the near post before being cleared back out.

King's Lynn had to re-adjust after the early Invicta onslaught when defender Mark Burrows limped off after 34 minutes and left back Daniel Hammond moved across to centre half.

The visitors had not seriously threatened the Invicta goal during the first half, but it was a different story after the interval as King's Lynn came out strongly from the start of the second half.

Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell looked uncertain when he let the ball slip out of his hands after 57 minutes and had to back-track to save Carl Holmes' attempted lob.

It was 1-1 after 59 minutes when Invicta captain Lindsey conceded a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area and Dave STAFF's strike flew into Kessell's right hand corner despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball. Set piece specialist Staff had scored from an almost identical free kick at a similar stage of the game when the sides drew 1-1 at the Walks back in January.

Hogg headed over from close range for Invicta after 70 minutes following a melee in the King's Lynn penalty area.

But the visitors pressed for the winner which would have kept them ahead of Tonbridge at the top of the table. And the Linnets went 2-1 up after 74 minutes when the ball bounced over Invicta's Mark Munday in midfield and a through ball eluded captain Lindsey to allow vastly experienced striker Dale WATKINS to run on and chip the ball over goalkeeper Kessell.

Kessell got down to his right to touch Adam Jones' header away from close to the post after 81 minutes.

And there was to be a final twist when Paul Lamb's corner from the right was headed on by John Guest and King's Lynn's Staff handled on the line to keep out Adam Flanagan's follow up header.

Staff was sent off by referee Ian Gosling to become the third King's Lynn player to be sent off in three consecutive league visits to Cheriton Road.

And CHANDLER held his nerve to plant the ball into the corner of the net to earn his side a share of the spoils.

There was still time for a looping header from the visitors' Jones to go just over the Invicta crossbar from Hammonds' deep free kick.

King's Lynn's Staff had earlier been booked after 78 minutes before his late dismissal.

And there was to be a final twist when Paul Lamb's corner from the right was headed on by John Guest and King's Lynn's Staff handled on the line to keep out Adam Flanagan's follow up header.

Staff was sent off by referee Ian Gosling to become the third King's Lynn player to be sent off in three consecutive league visits to Cheriton Road.

And CHANDLER held his nerve to plant the ball into the corner of the net to earn his side a share of the spoils.

There was still time for a looping header from the visitors' Jones to go just over the Invicta crossbar from Hammonds' deep free kick.

King's Lynn's Staff had earlier been booked after 78 minutes before his late dismissal.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Watkins (Blackman 72 mins), Hogg. Unused sub: Walker, Dyson, Winfield, Egan.
KING'S LYNN: Wilson, Jones, Hammond, Burrows (C. Defty 34 mins), Fuff, Stevenson, Camm, Holmes, Staff, Watkins, Woodrow (Harris 52 mins). Unused subs: Fishlock, Nobes.
Attendance: 555.

Bromley (0) 0 Folkestone Invicta (3) 5

RM Mar 23, 2004 Attendance 233.

Folkestone Invicta stormed into a home John Ullman Kent Senior Cup Final against Margate as goals from Adam Flanagan (2), Martin Chandler, Drew Watkins and Anthony Hogg gave Neil Cugley's side a resounding 5-0 semi final win over Bromley at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.

Five goals in a sensational half hour spell either side of half time took Invicta through in style and later secretary Richard Murning won the toss which means that Margate will visit the Westbourne Stadium for the final which is likely to be played on either Tuesday or Wednesday April 27th or 28th.

Chris Kinnear's Margate had won their semi final 3-1 away to Dover Athletic in a tie also played on Tuesday night.

Ryman League Division One South hosts Bromley were completely blown away by Invicta despite having the better of the opening exchanges.

Centre half Adam Flanagan has been a model of consistency for Invicta this season and the 26-year-old turned the tie with the opening two goals in quick succession.

FLANAGAN opened the scoring after 36 minutes when he headed in Chandler's deep corner from the left from close to the line at the far post. And FLANAGAN made it 2-0 three minutes later when he got the final touch after an almighty scramble in the Bromley goalmouth when Paul Lamb's corner from the right was initially headed on by James Dryden and then took a deflection off a defender when a Micheal Everitt shot came back in.

Flanagan - the son of former Charlton Athletic striker Mike - has now weighed in with eleven goals since joining Invicta from Hastings during the summer.

The night just got better and better for Invicta as it soon became three goals in seven minutes from set pieces as a CHANDLER free kick from 35 yards deep out close to the left hand touchline incredibly flew over goalkeeper Danny Harwood and into the far corner of the net. Harwood had played one Premier Division match for Invicta in a 4-1 home win over Hednesford last March but will want to forget this particular memory of the Folkestone side.

WATKINS made it 4-0 after 52 minutes on his return to the old stomping ground where he played for Bromley's groundsharers Cray Wanderers until his move to Invicta during the summer. The 23-year-old full back cut in from the right hand side before smashing the ball into the far corner of the net in a move which he himself had started and which also involved Lamb, Hogg and Dryden.

The best was yet to come for Invicta as Hogg completed the rout with the goal of the game after 64 minutes. The goal came at the end of a flowing Invicta move as Lamb played the ball in and Chandler exchanged passes with Dryden before HOGG applied a sweet first time finish on the turn.

Invicta could afford the luxury of resting hard-working striker Dryden after just 67 minutes and later goalkeeper Tony Kessell made way for understudy Paul Egan.

Bromley had looked dangerous in the opening exchanges as Kevin George dragged his shot wide when he didn't make the most of his chance after being put through by Landry Zahana-Oni after ten minutes.

Gary Drewett shot wide from the edge of the box after 26 minutes when former Hastings forward Zahana-Oni played the ball in again from the left. But Invicta's three-goal first half salvo in the run up to half time put the game beyond Bromley's reach.

Bromley substitute Wade Falana shot wide with a good chance from the edge of the penalty area after 61 minutes following a corner from the right hand side.

There were bookings for Bromley's Kevin George (late tackle on Hogg after 48 minutes) and Bobby George (foul on Mark Munday after 50 minutes) and for Invicta's Chandler (foul on Michael Harney after 17 minutes).

BROMLEY: Harwood, Potterill (Smith 45 mins), Harney, Wilfort, Willy, George, Drewett, Myatt, Luckett, George (Vines 68 mins), Zahana-Oni (Falana 54 mins). Unused subs: Kember, McKoy.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Egan 85 mins), Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler (Walker 78 mins), Munday, Dryden (Blackman 67 mins), Watkins, Hogg. Unused sub: Lawrence, Dyson.

Chatham Town (0) 0 Folkestone Invicta (1) 3

RM Mar 20, 2004 Attendance 194.

Two goals in the closing minutes from striker James Dryden put a flattering slant on the final scoreline as Folkestone Invicta stretched their unbeaten run in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division to 23 matches with a 3-0 win amidst windy conditions away to Chatham Town on Saturday afternoon.

Dryden's goals take his recent tally to five in the last four matches since the departure of Allan Tait and injury to John Ayling have seen him assume the role of Invicta's only recognised striker in the starting eleven.

It had looked as though a first half goal from Drew Watkins was going to be enough to settle the game in Invicta's favour. WATKINS had opened the scoring after 35 minutes with a good low finish across goal when Anthony Hogg played the ball out to him on the right hand side after Paul Lamb's attempted pass to Dryden had been headed back out.

Invicta had to wait until the 89th minute for their second goal when an attempted clearance was closed down by DRYDEN and the ball ricocheted into the air off his foot and flew over goalkeeper Gavin Hopper when a good ball from John Guest was headed out.

DRYDEN struck again during stoppage time when he broke down the left hand side, cut in and shot across goal into the far corner of the net.

The game thus ended with a late Invicta flurry and Dryden was denied a second hat-trick of the season against Chatham when he broke down the left again deep into stoppage time and shot just wide, with the stretching Lee Blackman just unable to turn the ball in at the far post.

Centre half Guest then scooped the ball just over the crossbar when goalkeeper Hopper fumbled a Dryden following a Lamb free kick.

Substitute Blackman had earlier headed against the crossbar after 85 minutes following a Martin Chandler volley.

It had been a different story during the first half when Chatham created the vast majority of the chances with the strong wind at their backs at Maidstone Road.

Steve Hafner chipped over from 25 yards after five minutes and striker Frannie Collin shot high and wide in the ninth minute when Doug Kedwell put him through after getting away from Guest.

Kevin Spriggs didn't make enough contact when a Hafner cross from the right was headed on in the middle after 19 minutes, while at the other end a Dryden shot was blocked for a corner two minutes later when Chatham captain Tom Binks sliced his clearance after Hogg had played the ball into the box.

Collin brought the ball down and forced a save from Tony Kessell with a low shot across goal after 27 minutes and Kessell was called into action again a minute later when Spriggs let fly from outside the penalty area.

A Spriggs free kick then flew just wide of the post after 32 minutes when Invicta captain Scott Lindsey brought Hafner down near the edge of the penalty area.

Watkins' goal came against the run of play, but put Invicta in the driving seat.

Chances were few and far between at the start of the second half and Hogg did not get enough power on his shot after 52 minutes.

Dryden showed great perseverance to keep the ball in play on the right hand side after 74 minutes and shot just over when he cut in after a combination of Chandler and Lindsey had got the ball clear.

Former Invicta player Hafner shot wide when the ball fell to him on the left hand side of the box after 76 minutes and the same player shot wide when he ran to the edge of the area after 87 minutes.

But Dryden's late goals were to put some distance between them and their fellow Kent opponents by the final whistle.

CHATHAM TOWN: Hopper, Binks, Larkin, Driscoll, Boyle, Douglas (Brookes 74 mins), Spriggs, Billinness, Collin, Kedwell (Hassett 74 mins), Hafner. Unused subs: Berkhauer, Lombardo, Armond.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Watkins (Blackman 76 mins), Hogg (Walker 90 mins). Unused sub: Dyson.

Folkestone Invicta (1) 1 Tonbridge Angels (0) 1

RM Mar 16, 2004 Attendance 542.

An injury time equaliser from centre half Andy Larkin denied Folkestone Invicta what would have been a significant win in Tuesday night's big Kent derby and top-of-the-table clash in a full-blooded encounter at the Westbourne Stadium in front of a 542 crowd.

Former Invicta defender LARKIN headed in Sam Tydeman's corner from the right more than three minutes into stoppage time to deny Invicta all three points after James Dryden had given Invicta the lead just before half time.

The fact that Tydeman had been allowed to steal ten yards to take the initial free kick which led to the decisive corner made the equaliser all the more galling for Invicta to accept.

26-year-old Larkin had scored just two goals in 157 starting appearances for Invicta between 1998-2002 and was Player of the Year at Cheriton Road for 1998-99. His last-ditch goal keeps Tonbridge four points clear of third placed Invicta in the Eastern Division table.

It was the third time this season which Invicta have been denied victory by a late goal in a home league game, although Neil Cugley's side did themselves carry out a great injury time escape away to leaders King's Lynn.

Invicta welcomed Drew Watkins back into the starting line up at right back and partnered Anthony Hogg in attack alongside Dryden.

And the home side made a strong start as Dryden lobbed just wide of the post as early as the sixth minute when he hit the ball over goalkeeper Jamie Turner after being put through down the middle.

Larkin was booked for a foul on Hogg after ten minutes and Luke Anderson was lucky to escape with just a yellow card for lashing out after and catching Hogg in the face after being fouled by the Invicta man after 28 minutes.

Centre half Adam Flanagan headed over a Martin Chandler free kick from the left after 36 minutes.

And Invicta duly opened the scoring after 42 minutes when Paul Lamb put DRYDEN through the middle and the striker held his nerve to hit a low shot across goal and into the net for his third goal in consecutive matches.

Tonbridge made a purposeful start to the second half as Luke Piscina had a shot blocked close to the Invicta line in the 47th minute and Ryan Royston's header was blocked after 49 minutes.

Tempers flared again after 52 minutes when Dryden reacted after Tydeman left his foot in.

Visiting goalkeeper Turner turned the ball round the post for a corner as Invicta threatened again after 58 minutes.

Tonbridge's assistant-manager Mike Rutherford became the third of the visitors' side to be booked for a foul on Hogg after 61 minutes.

Invicta substitute Lee Blackman was also cautioned for impeding Tonbridge form taking a throw-n during the dying seconds of the 90 minutes, though how Rutherford escaped further punishment for striking out at the Invicta striker only referee Rowbury will know.

And Tonbridge were to save the day with Larkin's last-ditch equaliser.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler (Blackman 75 mins), Munday, Dryden, Watkins, Hogg. Unused subs: Dyson, Walker, Winfield, Egan.
TONBRIDGE ANGELS: Turner, Beales, Roser, Anderson, Larkin, Royston (Moore 84 mins), Tydeman, Rutherford, Piscina, Overton, Searle (Cass 63 mins). Unused subs: Dolby, Hodge, Wilson.

Folkestone Invicta (1) 1 Dartford (0) 0

RM Mar 13, 2004 Attendance 407.

A fifth minute goal from striker James Dryden gave Folkestone Invicta all three points as they maintained their challenge in the top four of the Dr Martens League Eastern Division.

The early goal was not, as it turned out, to act as a springboard for any kind of a repeat of the six goals Invicta had scored against Dartford three weeks earlier. But the points proved valuable for Invicta as the three sides above them in the table all drew.

What turned out to be the only goal of the game was a good one as Tim Hambley showed excellent vision to play the ball into space in the penalty area for DRYDEN to latch onto it and apply a sweet finish.

For Dryden it was a second goal in consecutive matches following the sale of top goalscorer Allan Tait to Crawley Town and it was an important contribution from Hambley, who returned to the side after a calf injury in a more attacking role alongside Dryden.

Hambley was involved again after 33 minutes when he played the ball into the stretching Martin Chandler who volleyed at goalkeeper Jimmy Simpson.

Invicta were close to increasing their lead after 40 minutes when Dryden played the ball into the path of Micheal Everitt and the right back's shot was deflected just wide of the post for a corner.

Mark Munday was close with a header after 62 minutes from a Chandler corner on the left, but Simpson palmed the ball away and it was cleared by a defender for another corner.

Anthony Hogg shot over with a good chance after 79 minutes when substitute Lee Blackman combined with Everitt.

Dartford had a late chance to equalise when striker Paul Sykes shot into the side netting after 83 minutes with the visitor's only real chance of the game when a sliced Munday clearance went back into the Invicta penalty area.

Dartford goalkeeper Simpson made a good save from Hogg during stoppage time after the midfielder had got in behind defender Barry Gibson.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Hambley (Blackman 77 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Walker, Winfield, Watkins, Mann.
DARTFORD: Simpson, Gibson, Osborne, C. Tedder, Ratchford, McClements, Kwashi, Hales, Sykes, May (Ansell 45 mins), Fagan (Nicholls 81 mins). Unused subs: Potter, Avery, J. Tedder.

Newport (0) 0 Folkestone Invicta (2) 3

RM Mar 06, 2004 Attendance 224.

Folkestone Invicta stretched their unbeaten Dr Martens League Eastern Divison run to 20 matches when goals from corners courtesy of James Dryden, Mark Munday and Lee Blackman gave a somewhat makeshift side a comfortable 3-0 win away to struggling Newport (Isle of Wight) on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

This was manager Neil Cugley's first ever win on the island and will have acted as a lift after the midweek sale of top goalscorer Allan Tait to Crawley Town.

Blackman came into the starting line up, but Invicta had to re-adjust again when an early ankle injury to John Ayling gave a debut to 19-year-old John Walker.

Walker had impressed when manager Cugley took charge of the reserves in their 4-1 midweek win at Lordswood and had been the only ever present in the reserve side so far this season. Walker's big chance came at left back as Paul Lamb was missing due to impending fatherhood, with captain Scott Lindsey moving across to centre half.

The ligament injury to Ayling was exactly what Invicta did not need after Tait's departure, but striker Dryden did end his barren run of 15 games without a goal and will now have to take on even more responsibility for the season's promotion run-in.

Invicta were close after just 33 seconds when Munday shot wide from the edge of the penalty area after a move involving Micheal Everitt, Dryden and Ayling. But when Ayling was carried off it took a while for the game to come alive again.

A relieved DRYDEN opened the scoring after 28 minutes when he headed in an Anthony Hogg corner from the right despite Newport's efforts to clear the ball off the line.

An Adam Flanagan shot was blocked by a defender after 34 minutes when Dryden pulled the ball back at the far post and Flanagan headed against the crossbar following a Hogg free kick from the right after 39 minutes.

Newport had offered little by way of attacking threat during the first half and Invicta made it 2-0 after 45 minutes when another Hogg corner from the right was touched on by Dryden and converted by midfielder MUNDAY.

Simon Pilcher headed at Tony Kessell following a free kick on the right with Newport's first real effort on goal after 59 minutes.

But it was 3-0 on the hour when BLACKMAN slotted the ball home after a Martin Chandler corner on the left hit defender Mark Isaacson.

Flanagan became public enemy number one at St George's Park when Newport's Danny Hatcher received a blow which left him unconscious and taken away to hospital by ambulance.

Flanagan joined Newport's Isaacson and Invicta's Blackman into the referee's notebook and was replaced by Lee Dyson in the final minute.

Newport substitute Steve Bonser shot over the crossbar when the ball fell to him inside the penalty area during stoppage time with Newport's clearest chance of the game.

NEWPORT (Isle of Wight): McCormack, Buckman, Hughes, Isaacson, Holmes, McCormack, Hatcher (Bonser 82 mins), Pilcher, Bridges (Newnham 45 mins), Wright, Barsdell. Unused subs: Conners, Perry, Guy.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lindsey, Flanagan (Dyson 90 mins), Guest, Ayling (Walker 9 mins), Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Blackman, Hogg. Unused subs: Watkins, Egan.

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Fleeet (2) 2 Folkestone Invicta (2) 6

RM Feb 28, 2004 Attendance 132.

John Ayling grabbed a hat-trick as Folkestone Invicta helped themselves to a 6-2 win away to bottom-of-the-table Fleet Town at Calthorpe Park on Saturday afternoon.

Invicta were twice behind during the first half but came back to go in 2-2 at half time and were awarded three penalties after the interval.

Ayling was only in the starting line up due to a calf injury in the warm up to Tim Hambley who has renewed his loan spell from Welling United for a third month. It was the second successive match in which Invicta have tasted the joy of six after their half a dozen against Dartford in midweek and the second time this season they have put six past Fleet. And yet the Hampshire side had made a good start in the light snow.

Invicta hearts were in their mouths when goalkeeper Tony Kessell made contact to bring Eddie Smith down when a ball over the defence sent the striker away down the right hand side. Kessell escaped with just a yellow card, but Fleet were to open the scoring from the subsequent free kick after 14 minutes when Shaun HALE converted a well-struck set piece from the edge of the area.

The visitors were level after 20 minutes when centre half Adam FLANAGAN headed in a Paul Lamb free kick from the right following a foul on James Dryden.

Fleet restored their lead after 26 minutes when a quick thrown in from Hale found SMITH unmarked down the left hand side and he hit a sweet chip over Kessell.

But Invicta were level again within a minute when AYLING showed great skill to work himself through and smashed the ball into the net.

Dryden fired over from 25 yards in the 45th minute as the sides went in level at half time.

But Invicta were ahead for the first time after 49 minutes when a Lamb free kick was volleyed in AYLING following a foul on Allan Tait by Tony Millerick.

Ayling then had a shot cleared off the line when a Martin Chandler corner from the left fell to him at the far post and an Anthony Hogg shot was saved by home goalkeeper Calvin Sparshatt after 55 minutes.

Invicta were awarded their first penalty after 59 minutes when a Lamb cross struck home captain Ian Saunders on the hand and CHANDLER stepped up to convert the penalty to goalkeeper Sparshatt's right.

Invicta were given another penalty for handball after 66 minutes when Lee Blakely handled Tait's shot on the line after Sparshatt had saved from Hogg. But this time the Fleet goalkeeper got down to save Chandler's spot kick.

Mark Munday was close following Lamb's 75th minute corner from the right and Sparshatt touched over Dryden's shot from the right hand edge of the box after 78 minutes.

Blakey conceded his second penalty of the game and was duly booked for bringing AYLING down after 81 minutes and the 21-year-old striker completed his hat-trick with a low penalty to Sparshatt's left.

Substitute Lee BLACKMAN completed the scoring in the 90th minute when Hogg dinked the ball in after a short Chandler corner from the left.

As well as Kessell and Blakely, there were also bookings for Fleet's Craig Anstey (late challenge on Flanagan after 72 minutes), Saunders (foul on Ayling after 80 minutes) and Smith (late tackle after 83 minutes) and for Invicta's Flanagan (pulling Richard Mealey back after 56 minutes) and Micheal Everitt (foul on Hale after 62 minutes).

FLEET TOWN: Sparshatt, Dalton (Byfield 86 mins), Millerick, Hare (Leworthy 62 mins), Blakely, Saunders, Boyle (Black 62 mins), Anstey, Mealey, Smith, Hale. Unused subs: Buckland, May.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Ayling, Chandler, Munday (Lindsey 79 mins), Dryden, Tait (Blackman 79 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Watkins, Dyson.

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Dartford (0)1 Folkestone Invicta (2) 6

RM Feb 24, 2004 Attendance 179.
Top goalscorer Allan Tait helped himself to a hat-trick as Folkestone Invicta equalled their biggest ever Dr Martens League win with a 6-1 rout away to Dartford in a totally one-sided match at Gravesend & Northfleet's Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night.

Anthony Hogg, Martin Chandler and John Ayling were the other goalscorers as Invicta returned to winning ways following the frustration of their goalless draw at home to Corby Town on Saturday afternoon.

The win takes Invicta up to fourth place in the Eastern Division table and stretches their unbeaten league run to 18 matches.

Tuesday night's game was played amidst incessant rain, but the good playing surface always looked like being to Neil Cugley's side's liking.

Luke May had a couple of pot shots at the Invicta goal during the opening five minutes, but the visitors soon took control from the game's first few corners.

Hogg - who started the season a Gravesend player - opened the scoring in the 12th minute when a Tim Hambley shot was blocked for the game's first corner following a great ball from Paul Lamb. The latter moved across to the right to take the set piece which came back out to HOGG whose deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area went through a crowd of players and just crossed the line past debutant goalkeeper Jamie Delo.

Dartford have had their fair share of goalkeeping problems in recent weeks and Delo's night was not to get any better.

Invicta were close again after 26 minutes when Delo pushed a Tait shot over for another Lamb corner which James Dryden headed against the crossbar.

The visitors made it 2-0 from the game's third corner when Chandler played the ball in from the left and TAIT was there to convert what was Invicta's 100th goal of the season in all competitions.

Hogg created another chance for himself with a drag back after 33 minutes from a Lamb ball but this time shot at goalkeeper Delo.

Dartford's best chance of the first half came when John Butler's far post shot was cleared off the line following a good Tony Kessell save from Tostoa Kwashi after a free kick from the left.

Hogg was close again after 44 minutes when goalkeeper Delo lost a great Micheal Everitt ball in from the right.

Invicta carried on from where they had left off after the interval as John Guest's cross form the left just eluded Dryden at the far post after 47 minutes.

But it was 3-0 after 49 minutes when TAIT forced the ball over the line from close range when Chandler got to the bye line down the right and sent the ball over to Dryden on the left who created the initial opening for Lamb.

Dryden was the creator again when he received the ball from Everitt and crossed from the left for CHANDLER to make it 4-0 at the far post after 54 minutes.

Tait was denied after 56 minutes when Tommy Osborne cleared his chip off the line and centre half Guest volleyed wide when Lamb dinked the ball in after 62 minutes.

Dartford won their first corner of the game after 72 minutes, but it was 5-0 a minute later when TAIT smashed the ball into the roof of the net to complete his third hat-trick in Invicta colours after Dryden had let the ball run into his path from Adam Flanagan's left wing cross.

With such a comfortable lead, Invicta could afford the luxury of an unbelievable miss from striker Dryden after 75 minutes. The striker somehow fluffed his lines when a Tait ball was missed by goalkeeper Delo to present Dryden with a complete open goal, only for him to somehow mis-cue. Dryden has now gone 14 games without a goal and needed a goal more than anybody in Invicta colours.

Dryden was now playing a more withdrawn midfield role as substitutes Ayling and Lee Blackman partnered Tait in a three-pronged attack.

And AYLING duly made it 6-0 after 81 minutes with a classy chip into the net when he showed typically sublime skill to take the ball through after another Chandler cross from the left.

That was the cue for Invicta to give a run out to reserve goalkeeper Paul Egan in place of former Dartford custodian Kessell.

Tait shot wide when Blackman chested the ball down for him after 87 minutes and Lamb found Chandler in space on the right hand side, only for Delo to save with his feet this time.

Tommy Sampson's Dartford side grabbed a consolation goal when WASHI headed in Danny Tingley's cross form the right after Jay May had played the ball out wide following a free kick.

DARTFORD: Delo, Tingley, Osborne, Butler, Ratchford, L. May, Kwashi, Ansell, J. May, Elliott (Cunningham 60 mins), Nunn (Foley 45 mins). Unused subs: C. Tedder, Nicholls, J. Tedder.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Egan 81 mins), Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Chandler, Hambley (Blackman 73 mins), Munday, Dryden, Tait, Hogg (Ayling 66 mins). Unused subs: Watkins, Dyson.

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Folkestone Invicta (0) 0 Corby Town (0) 0

RM Feb 21, 2004 Attendance 318.
Folkestone Invicta endured a frustrating afternoon on Saturday when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Corby Town amidst bitterly cold conditions in a game dominated by the extremely windy conditions.

Invicta dominated from the start but could not produce that all-important breakthrough as Corby repeated the 0-0 stalemate of their previous visit to Cheriton Road in November 1999.

Neil Cugley's side had chances in the opening minutes as Corby goalkeeper Richard Lavin smothered an Allan Tait shot after just 80 seconds and Tim Hambley was close from yards in front of goal when the ball came in from the left after just two minutes.

But Invicta did not get the early goal which might have made this a far different game and Tait blasted high and wide after 25 minutes when a wayward James Dryden shot found Anthony Hogg on the left hand side and the midfielder was given the benefit of the doubt for his challenge on goalkeeper Lavin and played the ball back across goal.

Dryden could only head at goalkeeper Lavin when a Tait shot fell to him close to goal after 29 minutes.

Lavin produced the save of the match with a one-handed tip after 38 minutes to keep out a Mark Munday header from Martin Chandler's corner on the left.

Dryden headed over a Paul Lamb corner from the right after 45 minutes, but Invicta's first half dominance had not produced a goal.

Munday had to clear from close to the Invicta line after 54 minutes, while Corby cleared their lines again after 68 minutes when centre half Adam Flanagan met a Chandler corner from the left.

Dryden raced away down the right after 73 minutes and Invicta appealed In vain for a corner when his cross to Tait in the middle was met and flew out of play.

Flanagan blasted over when a Lamb free kick from the right found him at the far post after 79 minutes and Lavin produced another great one-handed save to turn a Tait shot over the crossbar after 82 minutes when Chandler put the striker through the middle.

Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell did not have a save to make all afternoon, though Munday had to clear from close to the line again after 87 minutes following a free kick from the left.

With the final touch of the game, Lavin pushed away a Chandler free kick deep into injury time when centre half Steven Julian fouled Tait on the edge of the penalty area.

But Corby followed in the footsteps of fellow Northamptonshire club Rothwell Town who had also drawn 0-0 at the Westbourne Stadium back in December, with Invicta having scored four times and won comfortably in the away game on both occasions. This latest stalemate still leaves Invicta waiting to record their first league 'double' over a side this season.

The parallels with the Rothwell game do not end there as against the Bones, Invicta had teenager Oliver Waters on the bench for the first time and on Saturday it was the turn of fellow teenage reserve team player Simon Rainbow to win a place on the substitutes' bench.

There were bookings for Invicta's Flanagan (foul on Danny Marlow after 77 minutes) and for Corby's Richard Challinor (foul after 79 minutes) and Lee Vallance (foul on substitute John Ayling after 88 minutes).

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Chandler, Hambley (Ayling 74 mins), Munday, Dryden, Tait, Hogg. Unused subs: Rainbow, Blackman, Dyson, Egan.
CORBY TOWN: Lavin, Marlow, Vallance, Glover (Marshall 90 mins), Julian, White, Forbes, Kennedy, Sturgess, Sneddon (Foley 70 mins), Challinor. Unused subs: Stanton, Hackett.

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Dover (0) 2 Folkestone Invicta (0) 0

RM Feb 17, 2004 Attendance 650.
Two goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half condemned Folkestone Invicta to a Dr Martens League Cup exit away to local rivals Dover Athletic for the second successive year.

Invicta had finished the first half strongly, but were disappointing during the second half as Craig Cloke and Israel Amadi scored the goals which gave Dover victory in Tuesday night's Fourth Round tie in front of a 650 crowd.

19-year-old Dover-born centre half CLOKE opened the scoring in the local derby when he rifled in a well-taken goal in the 51st minute after a free kick from the right had been headed back out to him by Invicta defender John Guest. And Nigeria-born substitute AMADI made it 2-0 eight minutes later when he slotted the ball past goalkeeper Tony Kessell after a free kick from Dover goalkeeper Dave Wietecha was allowed to sail straight through to him for a soft goal from a defensive point of view.

Wietecha was making his home debut for Dover after moving to the club from Invicta nearly 18 months ago. And the big goalkeeper - who made 165 appearances for Invicta - picked up the man of the match award after thwarting his former club during the final quarter of an hour of the first half.

Wietecha's best save came after 33 minutes when he pulled off a great reflex save to keep out a John Ayling screamer when a James Dryden cross from the left came back out to the 21-year-old striker.

That came two minutes after Wietecha had come out to save from Dryden, who was put through by Anthony Hogg and has now gone twelve games without a goal.

Wietecha also saved at his near post from Allan Tait right on half time when Tim Hambley played the ball out to the striker on the left hand side of the box.

Dover had created all the early chances as Jamie Day nearly caught Kessell by surprise from the right hand side after seven minutes and James Awuah should have done better when he shot wide after being put through by Lee Spiller on the quarter of an hour mark.

Invicta's Hambley was booked for a foul on Awuah after 19 minutes and Cloke got forward to head the subsequent free kick just over the crossbar.

A spectacular 25-yard strike from home striker Craig Wilkins flew just over the Invicta crossbar on the hour mark a Dover took control.

Spiller was booked for a 65th minute foul on Dryden.

Invicta's three-pronged attack didn't make many in-roads on the Dover goal after the interval and it is the home side who go on to play away to Premier Division leaders Crawley in the quarter finals next Tuesday night.

DOVER ATHLETIC: Wietecha, Browne, Davies (Welch 32 mins), Ball, Cloke, Rogers, Day, Spiller, Wilkins (Skelton 82 mins), Awuah, Carruthers (Amadi 45 mins). Unused subs: Hamshare, Hyde.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Hogg, Guest (Everitt 78 mins), Lindsey, Hambley, Chandler, Dryden, Tait, Ayling. Unused subs: Blackman, Winfield, Waters, Egan.

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Burnham (0) 0 Folkestone Invicta (3) 4

RM Feb 14, 2004 Attendance 122.
Folkestone Invicta enjoyed one of their most emphatic wins of the season as goals from Tim Hambley (2), Adam Flanagan and Allan Tait gave them a 4-0 victory at Burnham on Saturday afternoon.

The home side went into the game in confident mood after an unbeaten run of five matches which culminated in a 3-1 win away to leaders Tonbridge the previous Saturday.

But Invicta simply brushed them aside as Neil Cugley's team struck three times in the first half and looked a class act at the Gore in front of a small home crowd.

Invicta opened the scoring after 13 minutes when centre half Adam FLANAGAN headed in Drew Watkins' free kick from the left after a great delivery to the far post.

Striker James Dryden could have increased their lead on the quarter of an hour mark when he skipped past his man through the middle, but goalkeeper Steven Smith saved his subsequent shot.

Captain Paul Brett shot just over the bar for Burnham from the edge of the box after 22 minutes. But Invicta increased their lead after 23 minutes with another good header from an accurate left wing cross as HAMBLEY converted Paul Lamb's ball in.

It was 3-0 after 40 minutes when Hambley played Anthony Hogg through down the left hand side and top goalscorer TAIT converted in the middle.

Flanagan headed just wide when Lamb played the ball in from the left again after 42 minutes and Invicta were close again before half time when goalkeeper Smith came out to deny the in-coming Tait when the striker was played through the middle.

Invicta were rampant and scored the final and best goal of the game after 53 minutes when a flowing passing move involving the fit-again Mark Munday and Hogg resulted in Lamb playing another ball in from the left for HAMBLEY to add his second goal of the game.

The visitors could afford the luxury of introducing their three substitutes before the final 20 minutes.

With the game beyond them, Burnham stuck to their task and won their first corner of the game after 67 minutes when striker Michael Bartley cut in from the left, but goalkeeper Tony Kessell was able to touch the ball over.

Munday blocked Arron Lennon's subsequent shot close to the Invicta line and both substitute Micheal Everitt and captain Scott Lindsey made goal line clearances as Burnham forced a second corner after 73 minutes.

Invicta were close again in the 90th minute when a Hogg shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected for a corner.

There were bookings for Burnham's Brett (foul on Tait after 57 minutes), substitute Terry Davies (dissent after 79 minutes) and Adam Logie (foul on Hogg after 84 minutes) and for Invicta's Flanagan (foul on Bartley after 46 minutes).

BURNHAM: Smith, Horsted, Brett, Jones (Davies 53 mins), Emms, Lockhart, Logie, Ferdinand (Morris 73 mins), Mitchell, Bartley, Lennon. Unused subs: Nutter, Moore, Tillson.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Chandler 68 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest (Everitt 55 mins), Lindsey, Hambley, Munday, Dryden, Tait (Ayling 63 mins), Hogg. Unused sub: Holdway.

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Folkestone Invicta (1) 2 Burgess Hill Town (1) 1

RM Feb 7, 2004 Attendance 425.
Folkestone Invicta stretched their unbeaten Eastern Division run to 15 matches as they took all three points thanks to a 68th minute winner from centre half John Guest in a hard-fought match at the Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon against a Burgess Hill side who finished the match with nine men.

GUEST's winner came when he rifled a low shot into the corner of the net after the ball had fallen to him in the box.

Invicta had again had to do things the hard way in a physical game on a heavy pitch.

The visitors had opened the scoring after 28 minutes when Steve HARPER found the net from the penalty spot following a foul by Scott Lindsey on Ashley Carr down the right hand side when Nick Sullivan played the ball in.

Invicta were level in the 42nd minute when Anthony HOGG slid the ball past goalkeeper Paul Stark when put through by James Dryden.

The visitors lost their heads in the closing minutes as first Nick Bridle and then captain Ben Andrews, both former professionals at Brighton & Hove Albion, were sent off for rash challenges by the touchline near the dressing rooms. Bridle received a second yellow card in the 90th minute for a foul on Paul Lamb, having earlier been booked for an equally bad foul on Hogg after 16 minutes. And then centre half Andrews was shown a straight red card for a crude stamp on Allan Tait.

Invicta captain Lindsey and Burgess Hill's Julian Curnow and Des Guile had earlier been booked for dissent by referee Ralph Bone from Orpington, who had run the line in Manchester City's extraordinary midweek F. A. Cup comeback win at Tottenham.

The visitors had started well and had gone close to scoring in the first minute when Sullivan shot against the crossbar after just 48 seconds.

It was a lively opening to the game as Sullivan charged down goalkeeper Tony Kessell's attempted clearance in the second minute and Hogg's low shot flashed just wide of the post at the other end after three minutes.

Peter Overton shot wide after 13 minutes when showed strength to create an opening when Lamb's cross from the left came back out to him.

A Dryden shot was saved by goalkeeper Stark after 35 minutes as Invicta attempted to get back into the game after Harper's opener.

But the visitors had further chances either side of the Invicta equaliser as Sullivan's shot on the turn flashed just wide across goal after 40 minutes and Harper shot wide with a good chance during first half stoppage time after Sullivan had done well to get the ball over to him at the far post from the right hand side.

Sullivan got clear again after 65 minutes and had two shots at Kessell, two minutes before guest put Invicta ahead.

Harper didn't make the most of his chance when he cut in after 72 minutes after Andrews had run forward from defence. And Sullivan headed away from the goal with another good chance after 78 minutes.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey (Ayling 63 mins), Hambley, Overton (Chandler 84 mins), Dryden, Tait, Hogg. Unused subs: Watkins, Dyson, Holdway.
BURGESS HILL TOWN: Stark, Sullivan, Guile, Curnow, Andrews, Downey, Harper, Price, Smith (Kilpatrick 81 mins), Carr (Shadough 58 mins), Bridle. Unused subs: Dallaway, Lucey, Gannon.

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Folkestone Invicta (1) 1 Histon (1) 1

RM Feb 3, 2004 Attendance 363.
Honours were even on Tuesday night as two of the best sides in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division went head to head in an entertaining match at the Westbourne Stadium.

Visitors Histon will have left pleased to have moved up to third place in the table and to have maintained their unbeaten away record in the league so far this season, while Invicta stretched their unbeaten run in the league to 14 matches.

Invicta though have become the Eastern Division's draw specialists as this was their ninth draw of the season and their fifth in their last six league matches.

Neil Cugley's side had opened the scoring through top goalscorer Allan Tait in the 21st minute, but Histon were level thanks to a freak 42nd minute equaliser from Ian Cambridge.

The home side welcomed Drew Watkins back after his hamstring injury and brought recent signing Peter Overton in for his full home debut as both Tim Hambley (knee) and Mark Munday (calf) were missing through injury. Captain Scott Lindsey moved up into midfield as the home side adopted a 4-4-2 formation.

But it was Histon who made the early running as Adrian Cambridge created space for himself with a good run after 11 minutes, but goalkeeper Tony Kessell saved his subsequent shot.

Cambridge then chipped over the crossbar from the edge of the box after 14 minutes. But it was Invicta who struck first in a move involving Overton and James Dryden when TAIT took the ball on and thumped it into the roof of the net for his first goal since New Year's Day after his recent hamstring injury.

Adrian Cambridge was at the centre of everything for Histon and his 26th minute free kick flew just wide across the Invicta goal from the left hand edge of the penalty area.

Histon lost Neil Andrews to concussion after 27 minutes, but were close a minute later when Matthew Haniver volleyed over with a chance on the edge of the box when substitute Chris Tovey's cross from the left came back out to him.

At the other end, Martin Chandler stabbed the ball just wide of the post after 34 minutes following a move involving Overton and Dryden.

Histon were level just before half time when the mercurial Ian CAMBRIDGE's seemingly innocuous left wing cross was carried by the wind and somehow eluded Kessell as the ball bounced in front of the goalkeeper as a Histon forward's run across goal blurred his vision.

Invicta stepped up a gear after the interval and Dryden shot high and wide when Overton put him through after 53 minutes following great lay from Chandler in a move started by Watkins and Lindsey.

Chandler then hit the outside of the post after 56 minutes when Tait played a ball in from the left which just eluded Dryden in the middle.

Histon goalkeeper Paul Barber made a double save following a free kick on the hour, the second to keep out a close range rebound from Dryden.

Kessell saved Neil Kennedy's header after 64 minutes following Haniver's cross from the right and a minute later the roles were reversed when Kennedy whipped in a dangerous cross from the left which just eluded Haniver.

An Anthony Hogg shot flashed just wide of the Histon post following a Tait ball after 76 minutes. Tait went close to snatching it for Invicta during injury time when he first shot just over from the left hand side and then shot at Barber after Hogg had won the ball.

There were bookings for Invicta's Paul Lamb, Adam Flanagan, Tait and Lindsey and for Histon's Roscoe Hipperson and Richard Skelly.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Everitt 77 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler (Ayling 77 mins), Overton, Dryden, Tait, Hogg. Unused subs: Dyson, Blackman, Egan.
HISTON: Barber, Farrington, Skelly, Hipperson, Vowden, A. Cambridge, Haniver (Munns 87 mins), Andrews (Tovey 27 mins), Kennedy, I. Cambridge, Barker. Unused subs: Goddard, Coburn, Rowe.

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Folkestone Invicta (0) 3 Banbury Utd (2) 2

RM Jan 31, 2004 Attendance 325.
Three goals in the final 25 minutes completed a dramatic turnaround as Folkestone Invicta came back from 2-0 down at half time to beat Banbury United amidst wet and blustery conditions at the Westbourne Stadium.

The rain and wind were always likely to be a key factor in the only non-league game in Kent and the only Dr Martens League Eastern Division fixture to survive the weather on Saturday.

And so it proved as this was the proverbial game of two halves as all five goals were scored at the 'town/cricket end' of the ground.

Invicta's long unbeaten run in the Eastern Division looked like being blown away as Banbury took control with two first half goals. But a bold triple substitution on the hour mark was the catalyst for the Invicta revival as the home side laid siege on the Banbury goal.

21-year-old John Ayling once again proved to be the decisive factor as he won the Anthony Hogg penalty which eventually brought Invicta level at 2-2 and then grabbed the winner thanks to an error from goalkeeper Simon Tricker. Centre half Adam Flanagan had thrown Invicta a lifeline when he pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 67th minute.

Invicta welcomed top goalscorer Allan Tait back into the starting line after his recent absence with a hamstring injury and striking partner James Dryden also passed a fitness test on his injured ankle.

But little was to go right for the home side during the first half. Adrian Fuller's right wing cross just eluded George Redknap in the middle for the visitors as early as the third minute, while at the other end a dangerous Dryden cross from the left whipped across the Banbury goal after six minutes.

A Paul Lamb shot from just outside the penalty area was saved by Tricker's feet after 13 minutes, the first of three such saves by the Banbury goalkeeper during the afternoon.

But the visitors opened the scoring after 20 minutes when top goalscorer REDKNAP slotted home a well-taken goal on the turn after Fuller had played the ball in to him from the right hand side.

Chris Potter surged through the middle and hit a low shot at Kessell after 24 minutes and Mark Simms then shot high and wide when he created space for himself.

The conditions came to Invicta's rescue on the half hour mark when the ball got stuck in the mud as it was played out to the unmarked Redknap on the right and Hogg was able to clear.

But it was 2-0 after 32 minutes when SIMMS was there to follow up after Kessell had saved from Potter when Justin Lee played the ball through.

Desperate needs called for desperate measures on the hour mark as Ayling, Peter Overton and Micheal Everitt replaced Tim Hambley, Mark Munday and Martin Chandler.

The all-important first goal came when a throw in from the right was headed back out to FLANAGAN on the edge of the box and he fired home his seventh goal of the season.

There was still plenty of time for Invicta to save the day and Tricker saved with his feet again to deny Hogg after 70 minutes when Lamb's ball in from the left was headed back out to the edge of the box.

Ayling then skipped past his man inside the penalty area and was brought down by Fuller to give Invicta a penalty. Tricker got across to save HOGG's spot kick, but the midfielder made it 2-2 from the rebound after 73 minutes.

Everitt was close at the far post after 76 minutes which led to a goalmouth melee as Invicta went in search of a winner.

And it was AYLING who won the game after 79 minutes when his shot from the edge of the area squirmed through goalkeeper Tricker.

Tricker reacted well to deny Tait when Ayling threaded the ball through a minute later and the Banbury goalkeeper produced yet another save with his feet to deny Dryden after another telling touch from Ayling.

Ayling was then played through the middle, but Tricker was to come to Banbury's rescue again to concede another corner.

Banbury's Jason Allen became the game's only booking when he was cautioned for dissent after 90 minutes

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Chandler (Everitt 60 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Hambley (Ayling 60 mins), Munday (Overton 60 mins), Dryden, Tait, Hogg. Unused subs: Blackman, Egan.
BANBURY UNITED: Tricker, Fuller, Robinson, Sullivan (Stidder 87 mins), Allen, Eldridge, Stanbridge (O'Neill 83 mins), Lee, Simms (Jackson 73 mins), Redknap, Potter. Unused sub: Brock.

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Ashford Town (0) 1 Folkestone Invicta (2) 2

RM Jan 27, 2004 Attendance 244.
Folkestone Invicta progressed to the semi finals of the John Ullman Kent Senior Cup when two first half goals from Tim Hambley proved enough to see them through Tuesday night's quarter final tie at a bitterly cold Homelands.

Hambley was playing his first game since extending his loan spell from Welling United into a second month and celebrated by opening his account for the Folkestone club.

Simon Elliott pulled a goal back for Ashford after 77 minutes and Invicta had to survive a tense finale as the home side went in search of an equaliser.

Hambley and striker John Ayling came into the starting line up for Peter Overton (cup tied) and Drew Watkins (hamstring injury), with Martin Chandler switching to right back.

Chandler was involved in the decisive moments of the first half and saw a free kick touched over the crossbar by goalkeeper John Whitehouse following a foul on Anthony Hogg.

And it was from Chandler's 31st minute cross from the right that HAMBLEY found himself in yards of space inside the penalty area before taking his chance well to open the scoring.

Ashford's Joe Wade was then booked for a foul on Hambley after 32 minutes.

And HAMBLEY struck again after 41 minutes when he drilled the ball in at the far post after Chandler's corner from the left fell to him.

Invicta lost midfielder Mark Munday to a calf injury after 42 minutes, with Micheal Everitt coming on to replace him.

Invicta's two-goal cushion took some of the attacking edge out of their game after the interval.

Ashford introduced a third striker in Joby Thorogood on the hour to join an attack of Stone and Dave Powell, the latter making his home debut on loan from Welling.

Little Thorogood stabbed the ball wide with his first touch after 61 minutes and Stone shot wide from outside the penalty area when Aaron O'Leary played the ball forward after 65 minutes.

At the other end, Hambley missed out on a hat-trick when he had two bites of the cherry after a Chandler corner from the left fell to him at the far post, with defender Martin Anderson clearing his second effort off the line.

Ashford substitute Barry Gardner hit a crisp shot at goalkeeper Tony Kessell after 75 minutes and Invicta's Everitt was booked for a foul in the same minute.

Ashford were thrown a lifeline after 77 minutes when the ball was threaded through to ELLIOTT and he hit a well-struck shot into the roof of the net.

There was drama during injury time as Ashford had penalty appeals turned down and Invicta goalkeeper Kessell escaped with a yellow card when penalised for handling outside the penalty area.

When O'Leary's subsequent free kick deflected off an Invicta defender and a goal kick was awarded. Thorogood was booked for leading the Ashford protests and referee Venamore had to run the gauntlet of disgruntled home supporters at the final whistle.

ASHFORD TOWN: Whitehouse, Adlington, O'Leary, Anderson, Cumberbatch (Thorogood 60 mins), Wade, Azzopardi (Gardner 70 mins), Bower (Saunders 71 mins), Powell, Stone, Elliott. Unused subs: Gillman.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Chandler, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Hambley, Munday (Everitt 42 mins), Dryden, Ayling (Blackman 78 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Dyson, Egan.

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Stamford (0) 0 Folkestone Invicta (0) 0

RM Jan 24, 2004 Attendance 203.
Folkestone Invicta drew for their fourth successive Dr Martens League Eastern Division game as they escaped a late scare in a goalless draw away to Stamford at the Newflame Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The nearest either side came to a scoring occurred during the six minutes of stoppage time added by referee Mark Lever.

First substitute Gareth Pritchard played Malcolm Ndekwe through for Stamford and the striker capitalised on an error by centre half Adam Flanagan to bear down on goal, only to go down under challenge from Tony Kessell as he went round the Invicta goalkeeper, only for the referee to wave play on as the ball fell invitingly into the path of Danny Steadman who chipped against the crossbar.

Then at the other end, substitute John Ayling's far post flick was cleared off the line from James Dryden's long throw in from the right hand side and centre half John Guest's follow up was kept out by an acrobatic save from big Czech goalkeeper Ludek Michalik.

The result will only add to the debate about just how well Invicta are doing this season.

The optimists will point to the team stretching their unbeaten league run to 12 matches as they remain well on course for their target of a top seven finish will would ensure promotion should the proposed league re-structuring go through as planned.

The critics will say that Invicta have now won just three of their last ten Eastern Division matches and have not won in the last five matches since top goalscorer Allan Tait last started a game before further aggravating his hamstring injury.

The continued absence of Tait again saw Invicta playing with Dryden as a lone striker, with recent signing Peter Overton this time pushed forward in the main supporting role. Martin Chandler also came back into the starting line up in place of the suspended Tim Hambley as Invicta remain overflowing in central midfield options.

Chances were few and far between on a difficult pitch in the first half.

Wide man Kevin Ainslie's shot from the left hand side was blocked by Mark Munday for the game's first corner after five minutes.

Kessell got down to save from Nick Ashby when Steadman played the ball through after 22 minutes and a minute later Kessell saved from Kevin Byrne after the striker had played a one-two with Ndekwe who broke dangerously into the box down the right hand side.

For Invicta, a Dryden shot was blocked by Ainslie after Paul Lamb had sent the ball over from the left.

An Ainslie free kick came in dangerously across the Invicta goal after 49 minutes when Flanagan was adjudged to have fouled Ndekwe.

But the game was given an extra edge as referee Lever began to lose control during the second half, culminating in bookings for Invicta's Lamb and Stamford's Ndekwe after 67 minutes when the Invicta left back threw the ball at his opponent after the home striker had impeded him as he attempted to take a throw in.

Stamford goalkeeper Michalik got down at full stretch to keep out a Chandler shot from outside the penalty area after a run down the middle from the midfielder.

But it was the introduction of substitutes Pritchard and Ayling which added invention to either sides' attacks after 83 minutes.

A Streadman shot flashed just wide of the Invicta goal after Ndekwe had threaded him through after 87 minutes.

And at the other end, Ayling stabbed the ball just wide whilst on the floor in a goalmouth scramble after 89 minutes.

This was the third draw in four meetings between the two clubs, with Invicta still seeking a first win over their Lincolnshire opponents.

STAMFORD AFC: Michalik, Donald, Peaks, Ashby, Maddox, Edge, Nash, Steadman, Byrne (Pritchard 83 mins), Ndekwe, Ainslie. Unused subs: Rhule, Green.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Everitt 45 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler (Ayling 83 mins), Munday, Dryden, Hogg, Overton. Unused subs: Blackman, Dyson, Holdway.

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King's Lynn (0) 1 Folkestone Invicta (0) 1

RM Jan 17, 2004 Attendance 1004.
An injury time equaliser from centre half Adam Flanagan gave Folkestone Invicta a valuable point away to second-placed King's Lynn in Saturday's big Dr Martens League Eastern Division fixture at the Walks.

King's Lynn had won of their previous 11 home league matches this season and had ended the unbeaten runs of title rivals Tonbridge Angels and Histon with 4-1 victories. And it looked though the Linnets were going to claim another significant three points in front of a bumper 1,0004 crowd courtesy of an extremely well-taken 58th minute free kick from Dave Staff.

But Invicta stuck to their task amidst the incessant rain on a heavy pitch and were rewarded deep into injury time when FLANAGAN got the decisive touch as he bundled the ball over the line amidst a crowd of players when Paul Lamb whipped in a free kick from the right.

The free kick had been awarded for a bad foul by Jamie March on substitute John Ayling which earned the King's Lynn left back a yellow card and gave Invicta one last throw of the dice.

The visitors had only really emerged as an attacking threat during the closing ten minutes after they had thrown on substitute Ayling to support James Dryden.

Up until then Invicta had crowded the midfield, with Anthony Hogg playing just behind lone striker Dryden to compensate for the absence of injured top goalscorer Allan Tait.

And it was working well enough for Neil Cugley's side until STAFF broke the deadlock with an exquisite free kick which left goalkeeper Tony Kessell rooted to the spot after Gary Setchell had initially stepped over the set piece following a foul right down the middle just outside the Invicta penalty area.

The goal came after King's Lynn had put Invicta under sustained pressure at the start of the second half.

Lamb was there to clear off the line when a corner from the right eluded Kessell after 55 minutes and Kessell made an outstanding one-handed save a minute later when he got down to his left to keep out Staff's header when Dale Watkins chipped the ball into the middle from the right hand side. But even Kessell could do nothing to keep out Staff's free kick.

Invicta had a chance to equalise after 65 minutes, but Dryden was forced too wide and could only shoot into the side netting when goalkeeper Steve Wilson slipped after a Kessell clearance had gone over the home defence.

The visitors replaced debutant new signing Peter Overton and loan signing Tim Hambley after 71 minutes and introduced Martin Chandler and Ayling as they sought a way back into the game. Ayling remains arguably the most dangerous substitute at this level and set up a chance after 81 minutes when he skipped past two challenges after right back Adam Jones had missed a Kessell clearance, but Dryden could only shoot at Wilson.

King's Lynn defender Setchell was booked for cynically bringing down Dryden after 84 minutes when the striker raced away from him after captain Scott Lindsey put him through following a Flanagan clearance.

Invicta finished the game with three forwards as Lee Blackman replaced Mark Munday after 86 minutes and they saved the day when March's rash challenge on Ayling was punished by Flanagan's last-ditch equaliser.

Mark Camm, King's Lynn new signing from Lincoln, had earlier shaved the outside of the post when he cut in from the left after 15 minutes. Staff shot tamely at Kessell after 21 minutes when the ball fell to him in the middle following a great tackle by the again excellent John Guest.

At the other end, a low Hogg shot was blocked by March after 29 minutes.

Kessell came out bravely to save from Staff on the half hour mark and big Jack Defty headed just wide following a cross from the right after 35 minutes.

Invicta's Drew Watkins was booked on the hour mark.

King's Lynn introduced new signing Alex Notman, a former Manchester United youth and Norwich City player whose arrival has made headline news in the town. But it was the visitors who were to finish the game by far the happier with the result.

KING'S LYNN: Wilson, Jones, March, Setchell, Fuff, Raynor, Defty, Holmes, Staff (Harris 74 mins), Watkins (Notman 58 mins), Camm. Unused subs: Woodrow, Bacon, Nobes.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Hambley (Chandler 71 mins), Munday (Blackman 86 mins), Dryden, Hogg, Overton (Ayliong 71 mins). Unused subs: Everitt, Egan.

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Folkestone Invicta (0) 1 Stevenage Borough (1) 3

RM Jan 10, 2004 Attendance 912.
Folkestone Invicta's big day ended in honourable defeat as they went down 3-1 at home to Nationwide conference club Stevenage Borough in front of a 912 crowd in Saturday's F. A. Trophy Third Round tie at the Westbourne Stadium.

It brought to an end Invicta's 15-match unbeaten run as they equalled their best ever run in the country's premier non-league knockout competition.

Stevenage are one of the biggest names in non-league football and their vocal travelling support made for a big match atmosphere as the Hertfordshire club embarked on what they hope will be a return visit to Villa Park after finishing runners up to Yeovil Town in 2002.

Graham Westley's side ultimately had too much for Invicta and although the visitors have a major injury crisis of their own, including leading marksman Anthony Elding, they do have a far bigger squad than the Folkestone club.

The home side were dealt a massive, if not totally unexpected, blow before kick off when top goalscorer Allan Tait failed a fitness test on his injured hamstring. His presence would have been of great benefit to this encounter.

As it was, the home side held out until the 44th minute when Jon BRADY opened the scoring at the far post when Gary Holloway found Simon Wormull on the left and the former Dover Athletic man's cross went right across the Invicta goal.

The visitors increased their lead after 59 minutes when striker Dino MAAMRIA volleyed home after the ball had been played across from the left by Holloway following a break from Cook.

Invicta were thrown a lifeline after 73 minutes when substitute Martin Chandler's excellent cross from the left was headed in by midfielder Mark MUNDAY.

But any hopes of an Invicta comeback were nipped in the bud when Stevenage substitute Justin RICHARDS rifled in a superb low shot from just outside the penalty area after 75 minutes.

Big former West Brom and Bristol Rovers striker Richards had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes and made an immediate impact.

Brady had shot wide for Stevenage after 13 minutes with the game's first real chance after 13 minutes, while at the other end former Sunderland and Newcastle goalkeeper Lionel Perez saved from James Millar a minute later when John Ayling threaded the ball through in a move started by Paul Lamb.

Gary Holloway shot wide with a clear chance for Stevenage after 29 minutes when former Dover Athletic playmaker Simon Wormull put him through and Holloway headed over from Michael Warner's right wing cross after 32 minutes.

Striker Tony Battersby headed at Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell after 37 minutes when Warner found Brady down the right flank.

Brady's goal was a blow for Invicta just before half time and Jamie Cook blasted over with another chance for Stevenage after 44 minutes when the influential Brady's right wing cross fell to him at the far post.

The second half started with chances at both ends. Invicta centre half John Guest cleared off the line from Maamria in the 47th minute when the Tunisian-born striker went round goalkeeper Kessell after capitalising on a stray back pass.

At the other end, striker James Dryden shot over after a one-two with Tim Hambley a minute later.

Stevenage's second goal left Invicta facing a daunting final half hour and the home side replaced Drew Watkins and Millar with Chandler and Anthony Hogg after 63 minutes.

Munday's goal gave Invicta reward for a spirited second half performance, but Richards was to make a telling contribution for Stevenage.

Holloway missed another chance when he shot over after 78 minutes following a dangerous low cross from the right.

Invicta kept going until the end and Hogg's injury time shot hit French goalkeeper Perez and went over the crossbar for a corner after a low ball in from the right.

There were bookings for Invicta's Munday, captain Scott Lindsey, Watkins and Hambley and for Stevenage's Steve Watson.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Chandler 63 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey (Blackman 86 mins), Hambley, Munday, Dryden, Ayling, Millar (Hogg 63 mins). Unused subs: Everitt, Egan.
STEVENAGE BOROUGH: Perez, Smith, Warner, Gould, Wormull, Watson, Brady (Scott 73 mins), Holloway, Cook, Battersby (Richards 73 mins), Maamria. Unused subs: Westhead, St Ledger, Flack.

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Burgess Hill Town (2) 2 Folkestone Invicta (0) 2

RM Jan 07, 2004 Attendance 222.
An 87th minute equaliser from left back Paul Lamb stretched Folkestone Invicta's unbeaten run to 15 matches as Neil Cugley's side came back from 2-0 down to snatch a point away to Burgess Hill Town on Wednesday night.

LAMB scored his first goal since joining the club in November from Maidstone United when his shot from outside the penalty area was deflected into the net to save the day.

Substitute James MILLAR had given Invicta a lifeline when he pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after 71 minutes when Matt Geard pushed James Dryden at the far post after Allan Tait had sent the ball over from the left hand side following a John Ayling ball.

Tait and Millar had replaced Martin Chandler and Anthony Hogg at half time as Invicta signalled their intent to claw their way back into the game.

The visitors would have preferred to give top goalscorer Tait more time to recover from his hamstring injury ahead of Saturday's big F. A. Trophy tie at home to Stevenage Borough, but the striker was to make his first appearance from the substitutes' bench in Inivcta colours.

Things were not looking good for Invicta at half time at the Leylands as Burgess Hill led thanks to two goals from set pieces.

Nicky SULLIVAN opened the scoring after 26 minutes when he headed in the game's first corner from the right hand side. And GEARD made it 2-0 after 41 minutes when his free kick deflected in off the Invicta wall. The free kick had been awarded for a challenge by Mark Munday which earned the Invicta midfielder a booking, with Dryden also booked for dissent.

Invicta had gone into the game with Chandler back from suspension in place of the injured Tim Hambley.

The visitors had the first effort on goal when Dryden shot at goalkeeper Pat Gannon in the second minute after a good combination with striking partner Ayling.

Chandler then shot wide a minute later when Ayling created another chance down the right hand side.

At the other end, Munday blocked Ashley Carr's shot after six minutes when the striker cut in after John Price's ball had fallen to him down the middle.

Chandler hit a well-struck shot at Gannon from the edge of the penalty area after 11 minutes when strikers Dryden and Ayling combined to set up the opening. And centre half Adam Flanagan headed wide from Dryden's long throw from the left after 17 minutes.

Burgess Hill responded as Carr headed wide from Steve Harper's right wing cross after 20 minutes. And Sullivan put in a dangerous ball from the right after 25 minutes when Harper broke following an Invicta free kick at the other end just before Sullivan put the home side ahead.

Both sides then struck the woodwork as Geard hit the Invicta post with a low shot from the left hand side after 33 minutes and Munday hit the crossbar at the other end two minutes later.

Harper ran at the Invicta defence and shot just wide of the post after 37 minutes and Geard's goal increased the home side's lead just before half time.

Millar forced a corner from the edge of the box following a Tait ball after 51 minutes as the two substitutes aimed to make an early impact.

But at the other end, Sullivan headed just wide after 55 minutes when Geard whipped the ball in following a good move started by Carr. And Harper shot against the post from the left hand side of the box a minute later.

Tait shot at goalkeeper Gannon following a corner after 67 minutes as Invicta sought the goal that would bring them back into the game. Millar's penalty was to do just that, though the Folkestone side had Drew Watkins to thank for a great tackle when Sullivan was put through the middle after 76 minutes.

Burgess Hill's experienced debutant Price was booked for bringing Dryden down after 85 minutes when Watkins and Ayling combined to send the striker racing away.

After Lamb's equaliser, Invicta threatened to strike again when Ayling found Tait on the left hand side and his ball across goal nearly went in off Geard.

BURGESS HILL TOWN: Gannon, Sullivan, Guile, Curnow, Andrews, Downey (Bridle 60 mins), Harper, Price, Geard (Dallaway 90 mins), Carr, Day. Unused subs: Hurley, Killpartrick, Sadough.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Hogg (Tait 45 mins), Chandler (Millar 45 mins), Munday (Everitt 73 mins), Dryden, Ayling, Lindsey. Unused subs: Dyson, Egan.

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Folkestone Invicta (0) 2 Salisbury (0) 2

RM Jan 03, 2004 Attendance 401.
A last minute equaliser from Salisbury substitute Matt Tubbs denied Folkestone Invicta all three points in a game that could have gone either way at the Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

John Ayling had twice given Invicta the lead, but Tubbs brought Salisbury level on both occasions, with all the goals coming during the second half.

Ayling was given his chance in the starting line up as top goalscorer Allan Tait failed a pre-match fitness test after a recurrence of his hamstring injury at Erith & Belvedere on New Year's Day.

And AYLING opened the scoring after 53 minutes when he picked his spot and slotted the ball into the net when Paul Lamb found himself in space on the left flank and played a low ball into the penalty area.

Tubbs entered the fray two minutes later when he replaced Salisbury's top goalcorer Steve Strong and the visitors pressed for an equaliser as Scott Bartlett cut in from the right and shot at goalkeeper Tony Kessell after 72 minutes.

And 19-year-old TUBBS after 73 minutes made it 1-1 when he converted Craig Davis' cross from the left.

Invicta then had goalkeeper Kessell to thank for the latest in an increasing line of outstanding saves from the south London custodian. Kessell made an excellent point blank save to deny striker Adam Wallace when Wayne Turk played the ball in from the right after combining with Tubbs.

But AYLING appeared to have won it for Invicta when he headed the ball in from close range after 86 minutes after goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer had touched the ball back towards the 21-year-old striker after he had scooped the ball across.

This was the first time this season that Ayling had completed 90 minutes for Invicta and he looked like being the match winner. But in a final twist, TUBBS took the ball on from the right hand side and curled a low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area for a fine solo goal in the 90th minute.

There was still time for Adam Flanagan to be put through during injury time, but Sawyer was able to prevent the Invicta centre half from being an unlikely hero.

In an evenly contested first half, Kessell had got down to save from Wallace in the 13th minute after Strong put him through after capitalising on an error from Flanagan.

Strong chipped at Kessell from the edge of the area after 29 minutes, while Ayling threatened at the other end after 36 minutes but scuffed his shot across goal after beating his man when striking partner James Dryden touched on a Scott Lindsey clearance.

The closest to a goal during the first half came after 38 minutes when Kessell saved from point blank range from Strong after making an initial save from Wallace as Salisbury forced their first corner of the game.

Invicta were close during first half stoppage time when Ayling deflected a Flanagan shot towards goal, but the effort was cleared off the line.

All the goals came after the interval as Invicta drew 2-2 at home for the second time this season, with Salisbury repeating Stamford's trick of grabbing a last minute equaliser.

Salisbury's Wallace was the game's only booking after 56 minutes.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Everitt 80 mins), Lamb (Millar 83 mins), Flanagan, Guest, Hogg, Hambley, Munday, Dryden, Ayling, Lindsey. Unused subs: Winfield, Dyson, Holdway.
SALISBURY CITY: Sawyer, Bartlett, Cook, James, Thomas, Davies, Turk, Davis, Wallace, Purches, Strong (Tubbs 55 mins). Unused subs: Crook, Phillips, Holmes, Howes.

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Erith & Belvedere (0) 0 Folkestone Invicta (2) 4

RM Jan 01, 2004 Attendance 241.
Folkestone Invicta began the New Year in style with an emphatic 4-0 win away to Erith & Belvedere at Park View road in Welling.

Neil Cugley's side turned on the style as they raced into an early 2-0 lead thanks to two goals from Allan Tait, but will be concerned that their leading goalscorer limped off during the second half with a recurrence of the hamstring injury which kept him out for three matches before Christmas.

Defenders Scott Lindsey and John Guest also limped off during the closing stages as Invicta finished the match with ten men and will be hoping that the injuries clear up as they face a hectic schedule over the coming weeks.

The Folkestone side welcomed back Drew Watkins at right back following his recent eye socket injury as he came in for the suspended Martin Chandler and the visitors dominated from the start.

Anthony Hogg wasted an early chance as he shot wide after five minutes when Watkins and Tait combined to put him through. Tait then shot wide across goal a minute later when striking partner James Dryden nodded on a clearance from goalkeeper Tony Kessell. And TAIT duly opened the scoring after eight minutes with a vintage goal. The striker demonstrated his undoubted class with an excellent first touch to take himself away from a defender and drilled a low shot into the corner of the net from a Watkins pass.

It was all Invicta as a Paul Lamb free kick was headed narrowly wide of his own post by an Erith defender after 14 minutes as the visitors forced the game's first corner. And TAIT made it 2-0 after 15 minutes when he diverted a Dryden cross-shot from the right into the net with a diving header after Dryden had combined well with Watkins.

Erith's leading goalscorer Akpo Sodje headed wide from Steve Sodje's left wing cross after 17 minutes.

But at the other end, home goalkeeper Jani Seitsonen did well to keep out a Hogg shot after 18 minutes and Seitsonen saved from Mark Munday when the midfiedler met Lamb's free kick from the right after 25 minutes.

Steve Sodje took advantage of a slip from Watkins after 26 minutes, but Invicta captain Lindsey was there to intercept when the Erith man squared the ball across goal from the left. Invicta goalkeeper Kessell made an excellent one-handed save to deny Darren Adams when a Ryan Briggs ball was allowed to reach the former Dover Athletic striker after 33 minutes.

A Lamb free kick from the right was touched over for a corner by Seitsonen following a foul on Tait after 38 minutes. And the first half ended with Adams shooting just wide from outside of the penalty area.

Any hopes Erith had of staging a second half comeback evaporated with another good Invicta goal after 47 minutes. Dryden sent Tait racing away down the left and the striker's cross was converted in the middle by the in-coming HOGG.

One-time Invicta player Briggs shot at Kessell after 50 minutes and Akpo Sodje shot wide with a good chance from the edge of the penalty area after 59 minutes when a chip across from the left was headed back out to him.

When Tait pulled up injured after 68 minutes it took some of the gloss of what was an excellent all-round team performance from Invicta. Lindsey became the game's first booking for a foul on Steve Sodje after 70 minutes, but the captain was soon himself down receiving treatment and it takes a lot to keep him down.

Erith's Adams was booked for a foul on Guest after 82 minutes as things began to get a bit silly towards the end. But ten-men Invicta were not finished yet and they struck again after 86 minutes when substitute James MILLAR hit a powerful 25-yard free kick from the right flank which beat everybody and flew straight into the net at the far post.

Erith's Keith Winchcombe shot against the post from the left hand side of the box during stoppage time, but the home side were well beaten.

ERITH & BELVEDERE: Seitsonen, Aboagye, Roberts, Penfold (Emerick 73 mins), Tarrant (Abbott 21 mins), Winchcombe, S. Sodje, Vercesi (Gibson 65 mins), Adams, A. Sodje, Briggs. Unused subs: Payne, Whitehouse.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Everitt 65 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Hogg, Hambley, Munday, Dryden, Tait (Millar 68 mins), Lindsey (Winfield 78 mins). Unused subs: Dyson, Egan.

December 2003 Matches click here