Tuesday, December 09, 2003

FINAL SCORE
Dr Martens Cup R3
Folkestone Invicta 4-3 Chelmsford Ciity

A hugely enjoyable game, much more fun than the Euro bore on the TV. An early goal from November player of the month Mark Munday, a brace of goals from Alan Tait in a 3 minute spell. A wonderful goal from Jim Dryden near the death. Only worries for manager Cugley are injury worries, Tait pulled a hamstring and limped off, Ayling is still recovering from a hamstring, several defenders are playing thru their injuries, and on Saturday Invicta travel to top of the table Tonbridge..


Richard Murrill's FULL match report

Monday, December 08, 2003

Next Fixture
Tuesday Dec 09, 2003 DMC Invicta v Chelmsford 7.45pm ko
This game could be a family affair for Invicta's striker Lee Blackman as his cousin is currently on loan to Chelmsford from League side Brentford.

John Ayling is still not recovered from the hamstring injury and will be unavailable on Saturday due to a University commitment.

The only other injury question mark hangs over central defender Adam Flanagan who finished Saturdays bore with a dead leg, however manager Neil Cugley anticipates he will be fit enough to play. It should be a better game than Saturday, the players will be a lot fresher for this Dr Martens Cup tie against a Premier side.

SHAREHOLDERS MEETING was held this evening in Stripes, the next one will be on Monday March 1st.

Saturday, December 06, 2003

FINAL SCORE
Folkestone Invicta 0 - 0 Rothwell Town

INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Everitt), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Hogg, Chandler (Blackman), Munday, Dryden, Tait, Lindsey. SNU: Millar, Waters, Holdway.
ROTHWELL: Hughes, Thatcher, Lester, Porter, Rice, Cook (Page), Quincey, Hanney, Le Masuer, Mitchell, Flannigan. SNU: Capps, Haughton, Smith.

Richard Murrill's FULL match report

Other DME Results - Saturday 06 December 2003
Banbury United 2 - 1 Newport IOW
Burgess Hill Town 5 - 2 Corby Town
Chatham Town 2 - 3 Salisbury City
Dartford v Ashford Town
Erith & Belvedere v Fisher Athletic
Fleet Town 2 - 5 Histon
Hastings United 2 - 2 Burnham
King's Lynn 4 - 1 Tonbridge Angels
Sittingbourne 2 - 0 Bashley
Stamford 1 - 1 Eastleigh

DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday Dec 8
Shareholders Meeting in Stripes at 7.30 pm - all shareholders are urged to attend.
Tuesday Dec 9
DMC Invicta v Chelmsford

Friday, December 05, 2003

PREVIEW
Congratulations to the squad for getting through Tuesday night successfully and calmly despite severe provocation (without losing their heads whilst all about were losing theirs!). I admit that it was a frrustrating match to watch with only a few goal chances and repeated stoppages of play, but if some of the players are determined to mix it at every opportunity the officials have to caution them and then if they continue to trangress there's only going to be one outcome, red cards.

Anyway, the Trophy Round 3 resumes on January 10, 2004 with Invicta at home to Conference full time professionals Stevenage Boro, so not too much over-embibing and over-eating during the xmas hols lads. Well more pressing problems to be faced over the remainder of December.

We return to league action on Saturday when our visitors will be the Bones (Rothwell Town) who we last encountered on the opening game of the season when we won 4-1, their season has not improved and they are curently 2nd from bottom in the DM Eastern division, however we must take them seriously as they have produced strong teams in the recent past and we have a lot of league games (3 or 4) to make up at the earliest opportunity.

We have two games a week during the month of December, so all the 1st team squad will probably be involved at some point or other. Lets get behind the lads as they get thru this difficult period, some of them will no doubt be playing thru injuries, at least we shouldn't have suspensions to worry about!

FIXTURES
Dec 06 DM Invicta v Rothwell Town 3pm
Dec 09 DMC3 Invicta v Chemsford City 7.45pm

Saturday 06 December 2003
Banbury United v Newport IOW
Burgess Hill Town v Corby Town
Chatham Town v Salisbury City
Dartford v Ashford Town
Erith & Belvedere v Fisher Athletic
Fleet Town v Histon
Folkestone Invicta v Rothwell Town
Hastings United v Burnham
King's Lynn v Tonbridge Angels
Sittingbourne v Bashley
Stamford v Eastleigh

Tuesday 09 December 2003
Ashford Town v Sittingbourne 7.30

Wednesday 10 December 2003
Burgess Hill Town v Burnham 7.30

Tuesday, December 02, 2003

FINAL SCORE
Invicta (0) 1 - 0 (0) Havant & W'ville aet (0-0 at 90 mins)
Scorer: Flanagan 115 min

It took 115 minutes of football at the Westbourne Stadium to score the single goal that finally gave the Trophy 2nd Round tie to Invicta and a plum home tie in the 3rd round against Stevenage Boro.

Invicta included a surprise or two in their team selection. Jim Dryden, back early from injury, started (and finished) the game and reserve defender Simon Rainbow got onto the bench for the first time.

The home side hardly had a shot worthy of the name in the first half and were fortunate to go in 0-0 at the break, the visitors could have scored a couple of goals at least.

The second half saw some rash tackles from the Hawks, from players who'd already been booked in the 1st half, dismissals were inevitable. Neil Davis and Luke Byles were dismissed for 2nd yellows mid way thru the half and yet despite the obvious numerical advantage Invicta couldn't score in the 90 minutes.

And so on to extra time and more Hari Kari from the visitors, Neil Champion was shown the red card for an awful fowl on Paul Lamb and then finally in the 115th minute centre back Adam Flanagan headed the all important goal.

INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Winfield), Lamb, Flanagan, Lindsey, Hogg, Chandler (Blackman), Munday, Dryden, Tait, Millar (Everitt). SNU: Rainbow, Egan.
HAVANT&W;: Howells, Champion, Ferrett, Byles, Skelton, Masson (Turner), Town, Erribennie (Paul), Davis, Taylor, Ford. SNU: Kerridge, Knight.

FULL match report

Invicta are now in the FAT 3R and are at home to Conference side Stevenage Boro on Jan 10th.

Monday, December 01, 2003

FA TROPHY THIRD ROUND DRAW.....
Ties to be played on Saturday, January 10th 2004

Well there's an incentive for us, beat Havant & W'ville and we've got a home tie against Conference side Stevenage Borough.

Telford Utd v Alfreton T/Vauxhall Motors
Shrewsbury T v Morecambe
Altrincham v Runcorn FC Halton
Scarborough v Stafford Rangers
Lancaster C/Hednesford T v Gresley Rovers
Leigh RMI v Stalybridge Celtic
Blyth Spartans v Harrogate T/Barrow
Chester C v Halifax T
Burton Albion v Accrington Stanley
Marine v Northwich Victoria
Rossendale Utd/Guiseley v Worksop T
Hucknall T v Whitby T/Bradford Park Avenue
Burscough v Tamworth
Bishop's Stortford v Aldershot T
King's Lynn v Chippenham T/Basingstoke T
Gravesend & Northfleet v Weston-super-Mare
Dorchester T v Margate
Havant & Waterlooville/Folkestone Invicta v Stevenage Borough
Hornchurch v Aylesbury Utd/Grays Ath
Hendon/Kettering T v Woking
Exeter C v Hereford Utd
Marlow v Ford Utd
Barnet v Dover Ath
Forest Green Rovers v Sutton Utd
Histon v Seindon Supermarine/Maidenhead Utd
Cinderford T/Lewes v Weymouth/Ashford Town (Middx)
Wealdstone v Carshalton Ath/Thurrock
Canvey Island v Farnborough T
Hayes v Arlesey T
Dagenham & Redbridge v St Albans C/Crawley T
Staines T v Bath C
Whyteleafe/Worthing v Taunton T/Yeading

Saturday, November 29, 2003

FINAL SCORE
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE (2) 2 - 2 (0) FOLKESTONE INVICTA
Dean Blake ran Invicta ragged in the first half and provided all the bullets for James Taylor who continued to be a thorn in Invicta's side, netting two first half goals, a 21st minute header from Dean Blakes cross and a 32nd minute strike. HT 2-0

Invicta got going in the second half and recent signing Anthony Hogg was Invicta's 2nd half hero. Hoggy won the ball and scored in the 68th minute, in the 81st minute Hogg was on hand to head in Taits cross. FT 2-2

All to play for on Tuesdays Trophy REPLAY at the Westbourne Stadium Folkestone, ko 7.45pm where Havant will start as favourites as they are accustomed to winning away matches.

INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Lindsey, Hogg, Chandler (Everitt 76), Munday, Ayling (Blackman 57), Tait, Millar. SNU: Winfield, Dyson, Holdway.

FULL match report

FA Trophy Second Round: Saturday 29 November 2003
BATH CITY 2-1 GLOUCESTER CITY
Billericay Town 0-2 KING'S LYNN
BURGESS HILL TOWN 1-2 Staines Town
CHIPPENHAM TOWN 1-1 Basingstoke Town
CINDERFORD TOWN p-p Lewes
DORCHESTER TOWN 3-0 Harrow Borough
EASTLEIGH 1-4 HISTON
Ford United 4-1 CHELMSFORD CITY
GRESLEY ROVERS 3-2 HINCKLEY UNITED
HALESOWEN TOWN 1-3 Hayes
Hornchurch 1-0 NEWPORT COUNTY
Hucknall Town 2-1 NUNEATON BOROUGH
Lancaster City 1-1 HEDNESFORD TOWN
Marine 2-0 WORCESTER CITY
Marlow 3-0 TIVERTON TOWN
REDDITCH UNITED 0-3 Stalybridge Celtic
St Albans City 0-0 CRAWLEY TOWN
STAFFORD RANGERS 2-1 Spennymoor United
SWINDON SUPERMARINE 3-3 Maidenhead United
TAUNTON TOWN 3-3 Yeading
WELLING UNITED 0-1 DOVER ATHLETIC
WESTON-SUPER-MARE 1-0 Bognor Regis Town
WEYMOUTH 3-3 Ashford Town (Middx).

DM Eastern Saturday 29 November 2003
Bashley p-p Corby Town
Burnham 0-4 Banbury United
Fisher Athletic 1-4 Stamford
Newport IOW 3-2 Ashford Town
Rothwell Town 2-3 Hastings United
Salisbury City 3-1 Dartford
Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Fleet Town

Friday, November 28, 2003

NEWS FROM THE DUGOUT
The bad news, which you already know of course, is that Guesty is suspended for the next couple of games. The good news is that Scott Lindsey will be back for tomorrows game and that he will takeover from Guest at the heart of the defence. His experience is just whats needed for Saturdays FA Trophy tie in Hampshire at Dr Martens Premier side Havant & Waterlooville. More good news is that the Hawks are struggling to win at home this season but are compensating for this by doing rather well with their away fixtures. So a draw and a replay wouldn't necessarilly benefit us, we'll just have to win down there at the first atttempt.

Tait and Winfield were both unwell this week (flu) and missed Thursday nights training but Neil Cugley is fairly confident they will both be suffficiently recovered to play tomorrow. Jim Dryden (ligament) is recovering quickly and should start light training this week.

If you are unable to travel down to the game don't forget that the Reserves are at home to Sevenoaks Reserves at the Westbourne Stadium and are worthy of your support.

PS The unconfirmed date for the Kent Senior Cup game with Maidstone is December 17th.

Thursday, November 27, 2003

MIDWEEK RESULTS
DM Eastern Tuesday 25 November 2003
Histon p-p Rothwell. (pitch waterlogged)

KSC1R Tuesday 25 November 2003
Ashford Town 4-0 Fisher Athletic, Chatham Town 0-1 Dover Athletic.

DM Eastern Wednesday 26 November 2003
Corby Town 3-1 Stamford

KSC1R Wednesday 26 November 2003
Maidstone United p-p Folkestone Invicta

FIXTURES
FA Trophy Second Round: Saturday 29 November 2003
BATH CITY v GLOUCESTER CITY, Billericay Town v KING'S LYNN, BURGESS HILL TOWN v Staines Town, CHIPPENHAM TOWN v Basingstoke Town, CINDERFORD TOWN v Lewes, DORCHESTER TOWN v Harrow Borough, EASTLEIGH v HISTON, Ford United v CHELMSFORD CITY, GRESLEY ROVERS v HINCKLEY UNITED, HALESOWEN TOWN v Hayes, HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v FOLKESTONE INVICTA , Hornchurch v NEWPORT COUNTY, Hucknall Town v NUNEATON BOROUGH, Lancaster City v HEDNESFORD TOWN, Marine v WORCESTER CITY, Marlow v TIVERTON TOWN, REDDITCH UNITED v Stalybridge Celtic, St Albans City v CRAWLEY TOWN, STAFFORD RANGERS v Spennymoor United, SWINDON SUPERMARINE v Maidenhead United, TAUNTON TOWN v Yeading, WELLING UNITED v DOVER ATHLETIC, WESTON-SUPER-MARE v Bognor Regis Town, WEYMOUTH v Ashford Town (Middx).

DM Eastern Saturday 29 November 2003
Bashley v Corby Town, Burnham v Banbury United, Fisher Athletic v Stamford, Newport IOW v Ashford Town, Rothwell Town v Hastings United, Salisbury City v Dartford, Tonbridge Angels v Fleet Town.

DM Eastern Tuesday 02 December 2003
Chatham Town v King's Lynn, Dartford v Folkestone Invicta, Newport IOW v Ashford Town, Salisbury City v Erith & Belvedere, Stamford v Histon.

Saturday, November 22, 2003

FINAL SCORE
Folkestone Invicta 2-2 Stamford
Scorers FI: Tait (58), Hogg (71) S: Paul (11), Byrne (90)
This was the proverbial "game of two halves". Invicta were very poor at times in the first half as they persisted in playing everything into the giant Stamford keepers arms. Stamford should have been two up at half time but they let us off the hook. HT 0-1
Invicta played some entertaining football in the 2nnd half, levelled the score then went one ahead only to be pullled back to 2-2 in the 93rd minute. If Invicta harbour hopes of being a top seven side by the end of the season then they will have to win some of the home games against the better teams in the division like Stamford.

INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Hogg, Chandler (Everitt), Munday, Ayling (Blackman), Tait, Millar. SNU Winfield, Dyson, Holdway.
STAMFORD: Michalik, Nash, Peaks, Ashby, Blowers, Green, Pritchard, Byrne, Paul, Ainslie (Thompson). SNU: Naylor, Forgars


FULL match report

OTHER RESULTS - Dr Martens Eastern
Saturday 22 November 2003
Ashford Town 1-2 Histon
Banbury United 2-1 Erith & Belvedere
Burgess Hill Town 5-2 Eastleigh
Chatham Town 3-1 Bashley
Corby Town 2-3 Hastings United
Fleet Town 2-5 Fisher Athletic
King's Lynn 4-1 Dartford
Newport IOW P-P Burnham.(waterlogged)
Rothwell Town 0-2 Salisbury City
Sittingbourne 0-2 Tonbridge Angels

Friday, November 21, 2003

NEWS FROM THE DUGOUT
Although Teletext are reporting the signing of Anthony Hogg that is not strictly the case. Hoggy has had a bit of a knee problem and has been unable to play full games. He is signed on as a non-contract player and we will be reviewing the situation in 3 to 4 weeks.

Drew Watkins leg is slow to heal, he was unable to train yesterday but will have a fitness test tomorrow.

Ayling and Chandler both trained last night and will both be playing tomorrow at the Westbourne Stadium when Stamford are our Doc Martens Eastern league opponents.

The great news from Jim Dryden is that his plaster has been removed and he has hopes of getting back to the subs bench by early December and will hope to playing a full part before Christmas.

We have had a little bit of rain today and the forecast is for more rain over the weekend but we are not anticipating any problems with the pitch.

NEXT FIXTURE
Sat Nov 22, 2003 DM Invicta v Stamford 3pm ko

Thursday, November 20, 2003

PREVIEW
Aftrer the euphoria of Tuesday nights victory (6-1 don't expect we'll top that one this season!) comes the cold light of day and the analysis. It's true that we could have scored a few more goals quite easily if our blessed posts didn't always get in the way. Fleet can't have relished the prospect of a midweek journey along the coast after a days work at their proper jobs and then that eight minute spell in the first half in which Taity calmly slotted 3 goals past the unsuspecting Calvin Sparshatt in 3 one on one situations. Now we know that Taity can score a few goals but not usually in one on one situations, and the lad has been struggling to find the back of the net just lately, who changed the script! Tony Kessell has got to be one of the best keepers in the Dr Martens League, his handling is practically faultless and his good organisation of the goal area and his defenders is probably the main reason why we've conceeded so few goals this season (12 goals in 12 league games). And in Paul Lamb (another great signing Neil) he could well turn out to be the missing chess piece of the set. He adds balance to the side and is another great example to the young men of Invicta.

On Saturday at the Westbourne Stadium, Stamford are likely to provide much sterner opposition than Fleet were able to summon up on Tuesday, however we are not a two or three man team and although I've alluded to the contributions of Tait, Kessells and Lamb there are another 14 or 15 players who are all as important to the team and to each other. Another plus point on Tuesday was Neil's use of all three substitutes, nice to see him resting some of the main contributors and giving some of the younger players opportunities to get some experience. It's a 15/16 man game these days.

MISSING PLAYERS
Jim Dryden: ankle ligament damage - 3 to 4 weeks
Drew Watkins: cut shin - 1 to 2 weeks
John Ayling: blisters - late fitness test.
Martin Chandler: ankle - late fitness test
Scott Lindsey: one mach suspension
John Guest: three match suspension starting with Maidstone KSC

FIXTURES - Dr Martens Eastern
Saturday 22 November 2003
Ashford Town v Histon, Banbury United v Erith & Belvedere, Burgess Hill Town v Eastleigh, Chatham Town v Bashley, Corby Town v Hastings United, Fleet Town v Fisher Athletic, Folkestone Invicta v Stamford, King's Lynn v Dartford, Newport IOW v Burnham. Rothwell Town v Salisbury City, Sittingbourne v Tonbridge Angels.

Tuesday 25 November 2003
Histon v Rothwell Town

Wednesday 26 November 2003
Corby Town v Stamford

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

MIDWEEK FINAL SCORE
Tuesday 18 November 2003
Dartford 3-1 Fisher Athletic
Folkestone Invicta 6-1 Fleet Town match report
Hastings United v Ashford Town
Histon 2-2 Banbury United
Newport IOW 0-2 Bashley
Sittingbourne 3-1 Erith & Belvedere
Stamford 1-0 Rothwell Town
Tonbridge Angels v Chatham Town.

Wednesday 19 November 2003
Burgess Hill Town v Burnham 7.30
Corby Town 2-1 King's Lynn
Eastleigh 1-2 Salisbury City.

CHECK YOUR SOURCES (SAUCES!)
APOLOGIES for suggesting that Paul Lamb was having a one match trial, I got that completely wrong. He's looked very promising and is hopefully here for the remainder of the season.

Sunday, November 16, 2003

HASTINGS UPDATE
Well the good news is that Jim Drydens injury is not as severe as was first thought. He was stretchered off at Hastings yesterday with a suspected ankle fracture which now appears to be ankle ligament damage. I'm sure that doesn't make it any less painful so heres wishing you a speedy recovery Jim, we hope to see you back tormenting Doc Martens Eastern division defences in a few weeks time.

PEN PICTURE
PAUL LAMB (Defender): Joined the club during November 2003 from Maidstone United, whom he had joined earlier in the season from Margate. He had re-joined Margate in July 1997 after a long spell with Gravesend & Northfleet and was a member of the Margate side which won the Dr Martens League Premier Division in 2000-01. Paul was a member of the Gravesend side which played away to Aston Villa in the F. A. Cup during the 1995-96 season and has also played for Ramsgate and Dartford. Date of birth: April 19, 1973.

RESULTS
U18's League Cup Result (2nd Round)
Tunbridge Wells 1-4 Invicta U18's

See Youth page for Paul Everitt's match report.

Saturday, November 15, 2003

FINAL SCORE
Hastings United (0) 1-2 (1) Folkestone Invicta

New signing Paul Lamb made his Invicta debut. Mark Munday opened the scoring in the 21st minute following Watkins cross and Guests header. Jim Dryden was strechered off in the 39th minute (replaced by Ayling) and went to hospital with a suspected ankle fracture. HT 0-1.

On the hour Hastings made a bold 3 man substitution and leveled the score through Ryan Peters after a foul on Hafner. Then the substitution back fired on them as they were quickly reduced to 10 men. Drew Watkins scored the winner in the 89th minute directly from the free kick. Moments after John Guest was sent off for two yellow cards.

INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Everitt (Hogg 80), Munday, Dryden (Ayling 39), Tait, Millar. SNU: Winfield, Dyson.

match report

DM Eastern Div Saturday 15 November 2003
Banbury United 1-0 Ashford Town
Bashley 1-2 King's Lynn
Burnham 0-3 Dartford
Erith & Belvedere 1-3 Tonbridge Angels
Fisher Athletic 1-3 Burgess Hill Town
Fleet Town Eastleigh
Histon 2-1 Sittingbourne
Rothwell Town 0-2 Chatham Town
Salisbury City 2-0 Corby Town
Stamford 1-0 Newport IOW.

Dr Martens Cup Draw
In the Third Round of the DMC we have drawn Chelmsford City at Home.

The tie is due to be played on Tuesday 9th December although it may be Tuesday 16th December dependent on their Essex Senior Cup fixtures.

NEXT FIXTURE
Nov 18 DM Invicta v Fleet 7.45pm

Thursday, November 13, 2003