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Match Reporter: Richard Murrill - [email protected] Season 2005/6 Aug Match Reports

RM: 13.08.05 - Folkestone Invicta 3 - 3 Horsham

Folkestone Invicta drew their last pre-season friendly of the summer 3-3 at home to Horsham on Saturday afternoon when a stoppage time own goal from Paul Lamb deprived Neil Cugley's side of victory.

Left back LAMB sliced the ball into his own net with just seconds remaining when Nigel Brake found Lee Carney down the left hand side and the latter's low ball in was missed by substitute goalkeeper Matt Hurley.

Horsham had twice been ahead and scored both right at the start and finish of the second half, but Invicta had looked like turning things around with goals from Stuart Myall, Simon Glover and Joe Neilson.

BRAKE had opened the scoring for Ryman League Division One side Horsham after 36 minutes when he fired home across goal from the left hand side of the box.

But Invicta were level just a minute later thanks to an exquisite chip from MYALL when he spotted goalkeeper Rob Frankland off his line and tried his luck from 20 yards.

Horsham restored their lead just 22 seconds into the second half when striker Jamie TAYLOR fired a low shot which squeezed past goalkeeper Tony Kessell with supporters still making their way back to the terraces.

GLOVER levelled the scores again after 50 minutes when he found the net after Myall had put him through during a lively opening to the second half.

Substitute NEILSON put Invicta ahead in the 72nd minute when he held his nerve to go round substitute goalkeeper Gary Elliott and plant the ball into the net when Micheal Everitt put him through down the middle.

But there was to be a final twist as Horsham saved the day.

Invicta had earlier gone close with the game's first real chance with a far post header from teenager Ben Sly when Kevin Watson sent over a cross from the right hand side.

And Watson came across to the left hand side to hit a free kick which goalkeeper Frankland palmed away after 27 minutes.

At the other end, visiting centre half John Farley hit an acrobatic shot over the crossbar when he came up for Brake's corner from the left after 31 minutes.

Horsham goalkeeper Frankland turned a Micheal Eveirtt shot on the turn away for a corner after 41 minutes when Paul Jones played the ball in to Myall from the right hand side.

Taylor's goal at the start of the second half put Horsham ahead again and the little striker threatened again with a close range header in the 47th minute when John Westcott played the ball in from the right.

Striker Jones was then close for Invicta in the 48th minute when Lamb from Lamb's left wing cross and Horsham goalscorer Taylor called Kessell into action again a minute later during an incident-packed spell leading up to Glover's equaliser.

Neilson looked likely when he came on and caused problems in the Horsham defence again after 82 minutes and James Everitt shot over in the 87th minute when Luke Coleman had a shot blocked following a run into the box by Simon Rainbow.

When youth team goalkeeper Hurley replaced Kessell after 86 minutes, Invicta went into the closing stages of the game with seven teenagers on the pitch.

Defender Liam Friend followed up his first senior outing at Ashford on Thursday night with another substitute appearance here during the second half.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Hurley 86 mins), Watson (J. Everitt 70 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Norman (Friend 70 mins), Lindsey, Sly, M. Everitt (Rainbow 72 mins), Jones (Neilson 59 mins), Glover, Myall (Coleman 72 mins).
HORSHAM: Frankland (Elliott 45 mins), Castrechino, Payne, Farley (Graves 45 mins), French, Hawthorne, Carney, Westcott, Taylor, Hudak (Walker 57 mins), Brake. Also used: Oulling, Berry.

RM: 11.08.05 - Ashford 1 - 1 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta drew their penultimate pre-season friendly of the summer 1-1 away to Ashford Town at the Homelands on Thursday night.

Simon Glover scored a second half equaliser for Invicta after defender Lynvall Duncan had given the home side an early lead.

With goalkeeping Tony Kessell nursing a groin injury and Kieron Mann away, Invicta gave a first senior outing to youth team goalkeeper Matt Hurley.

And though he recovered with some good saves during the second half, young Hurley will want to forget Ashford's goal as he let Terry McCann's free kick from the right slip to allow DUNCAN to find the net after 11 minutes in off the near post following a foul by Adam Flanagan.

For Invicta, a Kevin Watson free kick from the left was palmed away by Ashford goalkeeper Sean Glover after 20 minutes and a far post shot from Invicta's Glover was blocked by his goalkeeping namesake after 33 minutes.

Invicta were level on the hour when substitute James Everitt made an immediate impact as he found Stuart Myall who in turn played a low ball across to GLOVER who made it 1-1.

Hurley made a good save to keep out a Joby Thorogood shot from the left hand side of the box after 70 minutes and Hurley did well again to pluck a shot out of the air after 78 minutes.

Invicta substitute Luke Coleman made his first appearance of the summer and the teenager was desperately close when his shot deflected off a defender and came back off the inside of the post after 79 minutes.

Defender Mac Cumberbatch blasted wide for Ashford when the Invicta defence failed to clear after 84 minutes.

But the visitors came close to snatching a last ditch victory when Myall headed against the post with virtually the last touch of the game.

ASHFORD TOWN: Glover, Croxton (Stone 65 mins), Adlington, Duncan, Cumberbatch, Joff Thorogood, McCann (Boorman 65 mins), Joby Thorogood, Achoko, Bradshaw, Ross.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Hurley, Bower (Lamb 45 mins), Norman (Friend 63 mins), Flanagan (J. Everitt 59 mins), Watson, Lindsey, M. Everitt, Glover (Coleman 69 mins), Neilson (Sly 56 mins), Jones (Rodrigues 72 mins), Myall.

RM: 09.08.05 - Folkestone Invicta 3 - 1 Dover Jim Dryden Testimonial

Folkestone Invicta came back from a goal down at half time to win 3-1 against Dover Athletic in James Dryden's testimonial match on a sunny Tuesday evening at the Buzzlines Stadium.

It was a strange night for Dryden who had to limp off after 24 minutes only to return for a late stint in goal for the home side.

"I would like to thank everybody who attended tonight's match and those that have supported me throughout my time here," said Dryden after the match. "I had to come off with a thigh injury which is troubling me at the moment but felt that I ought to start the game and take the chance to go in goal when Tony Kessell had to come off towards the end," added the 25-year-old who is Invicta's record senior goalscorer and appearance holder.

"Jim is a tremendous lad who always gives you all that he can," said Invicta manager Neil Cugley in tribute to his leading marksman. "He has developed into a top class non-league player and the club has been pleased to have been able to give him a testimonial season after ten years here," he added.

Dover, controversially, chose to mark the occasion by sending a reserve side, with first team manager Clive Walker not in attendance.

And the visitors threatened to spoil the party further by taking an early lead through Walid Matata.

Things were not following the script for Invicta during the first half as man of the moment Dryden limped off after just 24 minutes.

But Dryden's contribution was not to end there as he later returned as stand-in goalkeeper. He had previously been forced into goal for Invicta during a Dr Martens League Premier Division match at home to Hednesford Town and again in last season's F. A. Cup tie at Raynes Park Vale and he has yet to concede a goal!

Invicta went on to win Tuesday night's game thanks to second half goals from Micheal Everitt (48 minutes), Joe Neilson (80 minutes) and Adam Flanagan (83 minutes).

Dover's second string side were positive from the start as Rob Skidmore forced an early corner with a deflected sidefooted shot when Matata broke down the left hand side as early as the third minute.

And MATATA opened the scoring with a low shot on the turn after just four minutes when Skidmore and David Clifford combined well down the left hand side.

At the other end, Dover goalkeeper Darren Smith made a good reaction save to deny Invicta striker Paul Jones in the15th minute after the goalkeeper had initially lost Stuart Myall's cross from the left.

But Matata was still causing Invicta problems as Kessell made a flying save to keep out Dale Skelton's shot following more good work from Matata after 23 minutes and Matata himself headed just wide from Lee Scott's right wing cross a minute later.

Kessell was in action again with an acrobatic save to keep out Chris Wright's header after 31 minutes from Scott's left wing cross but assistant referee Paul Kelly's flag was up in any case.

Myall headed over Kevin Watson's free kick from the right after 40 minutes towards the end of a frustrating first half for Invicta.

But it was 1-1 soon after the interval when the ball went in off Micheal EVERITT's knee after Watson's 49th minute free kick had hit the Dover wall.

Everitt was in action again at the other end after 53 minutes when he cleared Scott's header off the line.

A deep Watson cross from the right forced a corner for Invicta after 58 minutes, while at the other end James Gregory headed just over from a Skelton cross as Dover threatened again after 63 minutes.

Kessell then had to get down to deal with Skidmore's cross from the left when the Dover man got in behind James Everitt down after 59 minutes.

Skelton's shot from the right hand side came across the Invicta goal and struck the far post after 79 minutes with Dryden by now between the posts.

But Invicta went ahead after 80 minutes when substitute NEILSON reacted quickest to score from close range when Paul Lamb's cross from the left came off goalkeeper Smith's chest.

And centre half FLANAGAN made it 3-1 in the 84th minute when he rose to head in a Watson free kick from the right.

Dryden's appearance in goal was a reminder that this was a testimonial game and there was a late cameo appearance for teenage Invicta kit manager Dayne Southern.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Dryden 77 mins), Watson, Lamb, Flanagan, Norman, Lindsey (Sly 77 mins), M. Everitt (Southern 87 mins), Bower (J. Everitt 64 mins), Dryden (Glover 24 mins), Jones (Neilson 77 mins), Myall.
DOVER ATHLETIC: Smith, Vallance (Farrier 84 mins), Clifford (Steadman 32 mins), Ball, Gregory, Skelton, Scott, Lott, Matata (Smissen 77 mins), Wright, Skidmore (Ovard 71 mins). Unused sub: Pettman.

RM: 06.08.05 - Folkestone Invicta 2 - 1 Tonbridge Angels (Sid Burvill Cup)

Bernie presents Burvill Cup to victors and man of the match Paul Jones.
(Invicta photographs are copywrite of FIFC)

Folkestone Invicta won the annual Sid Burvill Cup game for the sixth successive summer as they overcame Tonbridge Angels 2-1 at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon thanks to two first half goals.

Striker Paul JONES opened the scoring with a well-struck lob from the edge of the penalty area after 18 minutes when a free kick from goalkeeper Tony Kessell fell straight to him following a foul on Micheal Everitt.

It was 2-0 in the 30th minute when Tonbridge right back Ian PARKES turned the bal into his own net with Invicta's Stuart Myall in close attendance when Matt Bower played a low ball across from the right hand side in a move started by Scott Lindsey.

Player-manager Tony DOLBY pulled a goal back for Tonbridge when he found the net on the hour after goalkeeper Kessell had saved an initial effort with his feet when Luke Piscina cut in from the right hand side past defender Adam Flanagan.

Invicta rested the injured James Dryden (dead leg) and John Guest (knee) and had Paul Lamb unavailable due to work commitments.

And it was the visitors who made the early running as Leroy Huggins hit a first minute free kick at Kessell and striker Jay May called the Invicta goalkeeper into action again after three minutes.

Darren Smith then lobbed just wide of the Invicta post after seven minutes when he combined with May but was injured in the process and had to be carried off to be replaced by Mike Cramp.

Jones' goal though was to give Invicta the initiative and striking partner Simon Glover threatened to increase the lead after 19 minutes when he shot at goalkeeper Jerome John.

Glover was close again after 27 minutes when he dinked the ball just wide when Myall put him through at the end of a good Invicta passing move.

Invicta were soon 2-0 ahead, but Kessell had to come to the rescue after 32 minutes when he came out to thwart May when the unmarked striker closed in on goal following a deep cross from the left.

Tonbridge went close again at the start of the second half when both May and Cramp couldn't quite force the ball over the line from close range as defender James Everitt managed to bundle the ball out for a corner following a deep cross from the right hand side.

A 20 yard Micheal Everitt shot flashed past the Tonbridge goal after 59 minutes.

But the visitors were back into the game with Dolby's goal a minute later.

Myall chipped against the Tonbridge crossbar after 64 minutes when Jones played the ball to hm from the right hand side of the box when the Tonbridge defence failed to clear.

Tonbridge rallied in the closing stages as Dolby hit a free kick at Kessell after 83 minutes and Piscina threatened to save the day when he fired wide with a low shot with virtually the last kick of the game when he cut in from the left past defenders James Everitt and Kevin Watson.

Invicta's first goalscorer Jones was chosen as man of the match by the Burvill family.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, Norman, Flanagan, J. Everitt, Lindsey (Chandler 61 mins), M. Everitt, Bower, Glover (Sly 61 mins), Jones (Neilson 75 mins), Myall.
TONBRIDGE ANGELS: John, Parkes, Roser, Beales, Aris (Sinclair 45 mins), Smith (Cramp 7 mins), Piscina, Lye, May (Dolby 54 mins), Heath, Huggins.

Jones the goal, lobs the keeper - Myall forces error for 2nd goal - Gloves in full flight
(Invicta photographs are copywrite of FIFC)

RM: 02.08.05 - Chatham 1 - 1 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicts drew 1-1 away to Chatham Town in Tuesday night’s pre-season friendly at Maidstone Road after taking a first half lead through Micheal Everitt.

Starting the game as captain, 22-year-old EVERITT opened the scoring when he fired the ball game after 17 minutes when fellow midfielder Matt Bower won the ball on the edge of the penalty area.

But Chatham equalised in the 47th minute when Byron WALKER found the net despite James Everitt’s attempts to clear off the line after goalkeeper Kieron Mann had made a good save when the ball deflected off defender John Guest following a cross from the right hand side.

The Folkestone side had earlier lost striker James Dryden with a dead leg after 13 minutes following a challenge from former Invicta defender Andy Larkin, bringing substitute Simon Glover into the game early on.

Teenage striker Ben Sly was also given a first start after making an impact in the club’s pre-season games so far with goals as a substitute against both Gravesend & Northfleet and Maidstone United.

Invicta defender Guest went off after taking a knock with a minute to go, with Myall returning to the fray, leaving goalkeeper Mann, left back Paul Lamb and striker Paul Jones as the only three visiting players to play the whole game.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mann, Watson (J. Everitt 45 mins), Lamb, Guest (Myall 89 mins), Norman (Flanagan 45 mns), M. Everitt, Myall (Rainbow 67 mins), Bower (Lindsey 45 mins), Dryden (Glover 13 mins), Jones, Sly (Neilson 45 mins).

RM: 30.07.05 - Hythe Town 2 - 6 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta came back from 2-0 down to win 6-2 away to neighbours Hythe Town in Saturday's pre-season friendly at Reachfields.

James Dryden led the way with a hat-trick either side of half time after first half goals from Lee Blackman and Dan Fisk had raised Hythe's hopes of a shock victory.

Striker BLACKMAN had opened the scoring for Hythe after 19 minutes when he was there in the middle to touch in Lee Winfield's low cross from the right hand side.

And FISK made it 2-0 after 34 minutes when the ball fell to him on the right hand side of the goalmouth after the ball had come back off the Invicta post when Lee Winfield let fly from the edge of the penalty area after a free kick from the right hand fallen to Blackman on the edge of the box.

But Invicta were back into things just three minutes later when DRYDEN curled a free kick straight into the corner of the net when he himself had been fouled on the edge of the penalty area.

And Stuart MYALL made it 2-2 after 42 minutes with a sweet strike into the top corner of the net from the edge of the box following a touch from Matt Bower.

Four goals in the opening 25 minutes of the second half were to put Invicta out of reach.

There was a controversial start to the second half as Invicta went ahead courtesy of an unstoppable penalty from DRYDEN after 50 minutes when Farrell Cox was adjudged to have fouled Micheal Everitt.

It was then the Folkestone side's turn to feel aggrieved just a minute later when Dryden lobbed the ball into the net again when goalkeeper Tony Kessell's kick fell to him on the left hand side of the box, only for the 'goal' to be ruled out for offside.

Stand-in striker John GUEST made it 4-2 after 55 minutes when he hooked the ball in from close range at the second attempt after goalkeeper Leigh Holdway had done very well to clear Guest's initial effort away from the goal line. Assistant referee John Heasman's flag again went up, but this time the goal stood.

DRYDEN completed his hat-trick to make it 5-2 when he showed good footwork inside the box.

And substitute Joe NEILSON completed the scoring on his first appearance of the summer when he slotted the ball into the net when a chance came his way inside the box in the 70th minute.

Lee Winfield had earlier fired the first real effort on goal when he called goalkeeper Kieran Mann into action after eight minutes with a shot from the edge of the penalty area following a Hythe corner on the right hand side.

At the other end, a Dryden shot was comfortably dealt with by Hythe goalkeeper Nick Day after 17 minutes when Scott Lindsey put the striker through.

Invicta had chances in between the two Hythe goals when Dryden shot at Day following another Lindsey ball after 25 minutes; Dryden lost his footing inside the box when both Paul Lamb and Micheal Everitt did well to carve out an opening a minute later; and right back Kevin Watson blasted over when he cut in past Darren Winfield following a great ball from Adam Flanagan on the half hour mark.

It was all Invicta after the interval, but goalkeeper Kessell had to make an acrobatic save to deny substitute Dane Luchford after 66 minutes following a right wing cross from Rhys Taylor-Ryall.

Invicta substitute Ben Sly nearly increased the visitors' tally further after 71 minutes but this time the ball hit the side netting when he slotted it past the goalkeeper.

In late chances, Luchford shot at Kessell again at one end after 81 minutes, while Holdway parried the ball when Sly let fly at the other end in the 85th minute.

Hat-trick hero Dryden was chosen as man of the match by sponsors Eleganza Properties.

HYTHE TOWN: Day (Holdway 45 mins), Walmsley, D. Winfield (A. Todd 69 mins), Cox (Robertson 56 mins), Yorath (D. Porter 56 mins), Guiver (C. Todd 69 mins), Fisk (Taylor-Ryall 62 mins), Brazier (D. Luchford 62 mins), L. Winfield, Blackman, Widnall.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mann (Kessell 45 mins), Watson (J. Everitt 60 mins), Lamb (Sly 56 mins), Flanagan, Norman, Lindsey (Rainbow 62 mins), M. Everitt (Chandler 62 mins), Bower (Neilson 57 mins), Dryden, Guest, Myall.

RM: 26.07.05 - Folkestone Invicta 3-1 Maidstone Utd

Goals from Paul Jones (2) and Ben Sly gave Folkestone Invicta a 3-1 victory over Maidstone United in Tuesday night's pre-season friendly at a wet Buzzlines Stadium.

Jones scored his first goals for the club following his summer move from Ashford Town to give Invicta a 2-0 half time lead.

One-time Invicta player Nick Hegley pulled a goal back for Maidstone within two minutes of the second half, but substitute Sly restored Invicta's two-goal advantage with his second goal in three substitute appearances.

There were early chances at both ends as former Dover Athletic man Jimmy Strouts headed over for the visitors in the seventh minute and a Simon Glover shot rolled against the Maidstone post for Invicta minute later.

Hegley volleyed over in the 20th minute when Nathan Paul sent in a good ball from the right hand side for Maidstone and Mo Takologhabashi shot over following a Simon Austin ball after 25 minutes.

At the other end, a Stuart Myall free kick from the left was volleyed over by Simon Glover on the half hour mark.

JONES opened the scoring after 34 minutes when he drilled the ball in from a Micheal Everitt pass when Paul Lamb took a quick throw-in after he had surged down the left flank.

Dryden then headed over a Micheal Everitt cross after 36 minutes.

Jones struck the post from close range after 40 minutes when Lamb sent over a very deep cross from the left to James Dryden at the far post.

And JONES duly made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute with a clinical finish when Scott Lindsey put him through one-on-one against goalkeeper Pat Mullin.

HEGLEY brought Maidstone back into the game with a quality 47th minute chip from just outside the penalty area.

SLY made it 3-1 just three minutes after replacing two-goal Jones when he struck the ball home in the 55th minute with a first-time strike when Myall sent a low hard cross in from the right hand side.

That led to a flurry of Invicta substitutions which included an appearance for number two goalkeeper Kieron Mann on his 18th birthday and a run out for Martin Chandler following a long absence with a knee injury.

Hegley had another chance for Maidstone after 67 minutes, but this time his snapshot flew across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

James Everitt cleared off the line from Maidstone substitute Lyndon Rowland following a corner from the right hand side after 74 minutes.

Dryden had a couple of late chances for Invicta when he first fired wide across goal after 83 minutes and then curled a shot just wide of the far post from the left hand side after 86 minutes.

Invicta centre half John Guest missed the match with a back injury.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Mann 55 mins), J. Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Norman, Lindsey (Bower 55 mins), M. Everitt (Chandler 55 mins), Myall (Rainbow 55 mins), Dryden, Jones (Sly 51 mins), Glover.
MAIDSTONE UNITED: Mullin, Paul (Lacey 69 mins), Celaire, Tydeman, Miller (Barton 54 mins), Nicholl, Strouts, Kimble, Takologhabashi (Speering 69 mins), Austin (Rowland 54 mins), Hegley.

RM: 20.07.05 - Folkestone Invicta 0-2 Gillingham

Second half goals from Danny Byfield and substitute Carl Wilson-Denis gave Nationwide League Division One club Gillingham a 2-0 win in Wednesday night's pre-season friendly at the Buzzlines Stadium.

BYFIELD opened the scoring in the 52nd minute when he controlled the ball well and beat goalkeeper Tony Kessell with a low shot from a narrow angle from the right hand side of the box following a ball from Matt Jarvis.

And big trialist WILSON-DENIS made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute when Danny Jackman pulled the ball back to him from the left hand side in a well-worked move.

Byfield had earlier fired the game's first chance wide after eight minutes when striking partner Darius Henderson headed the ball down invitingly to him.

But Invicta held their own during the first half and James Dryden called Gillingham goalkeeper Steve Banks into action with a shot across goal after 21 minutes.

Jackman fired wide for the visitors when Henderson laid the ball to him after 23 minutes and Kessell saved with his feet from Byfield two minutes later when Alan Pouton took a quick free kick following a foul by John Guest on Henderson.

For Invicta, Stuart Myall shot at Banks when right back Kevin Watson played the ball forward to Dryden on the half hour mark.

Kessell saved Jarvis' shot from the right hand side in the 40th minute, while at the other end Matt Bower couldn't quite bring the ball under control when presented with a 42nd minute close range chance.

Invicta centre half Adam Flanagan blocked from Byfield in the 44th minute when the striker cut in and shaped up to shoot and Henderson subsequently headed wide across goal.

Byfield's opener soon after half time put new Gillingham manager's Neale Cooper's side ahead, but Invicta responded as Flanagan brought a save from Banks with a header from a corner.

Kessell saved from Henderson when Wilson-Denis pulled the ball back after 64 minutes and Wilson-Denis was to increase the lead eight minutes later.

Popular former Gillingham player-manager Andy Hessenthaler made a second half appearance as a substitute and shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area after 80 minutes.

Invicta centre half Guest was chosen as man of the match by new sponsors Buzzlines.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Mann 76 mins), Watson (J. Everitt 65 mins), Norman (Tanner 77 mins), Flanagan (Lamb 65 mins), Guest, M. Everitt (Rainbow 77 mins), Myall, Bower (Lindsey 71 mins), Dryden, Jones, Glover (Sly 77 mins).
GILLINGHAM: Banks, Cooper, Rose, Pouton (Corneille 85 mins), Hope, Johnson (Cox 70 mins), Crofts (Flynn 45 mins), Jarvis (Hessenthaler 71 mins), Henderson (Roberts 76 mins), Byfield (Wilson-Denis 55 mins), Jackman.

RM: 16.07.05 - Folkestone Invicta 1-3 Gravesend & Northfleet

Folkestone Invicta began their pre-season programme with a 3-1 defeat at home to Nationwide conference club Gravesend & Northfleet amidst the glorious sunshine of the newly christened Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Liam Daish's full-time Gravesend side took an early stranglehold on the game as they raced into a 3-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

Gravesend legend Jimmy JACKSON opened the scoring with a sweet seventh minute strike which flew into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

It was 2-0 in the eleventh minute thanks to a looping header in the middle following a cross from the right hand side.

And newly signed striker Charlie MacDONALD made it 3-0 after 20 minutes when his shot from the right hand side of the box was pushed into his own net by goalkeeper Tony Kessell.

It had, however, been a sad start to the game for Gravesend trialist Ryan Maxwell who had to leave the field and be taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder within 30 seconds of his debut.

But it was all Gravesend during the first half as a MacDonald snapshot brought a save from Kessell after 17 minutes.

Invicta gave appearances to summer signings Stuart Myall, Matt Bower and Paul Jones and a second half outing for Andrew Burke who has returned to try his luck with the club again after a couple of spells last season.

The home side came back into the game after the interval and it was to be a memorable afternoon for teenage substitute Ben Sly who pulled a goal back in the 85th minute on his first senior outing.

SLY found the net with a well-taken shot across goal when Myall played the ball to him down the right hand side.

A Burke free kick had earlier called Gravesend goalkeeper Aaron Kerr into action after 54 minutes and James Dryden was also close with a low shot which flashed across the goal after 62 minutes.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Mann 70 mins), Watson (J. Everitt 45 mins), Lamb (Burke 45 mins), Flanagan, Guest 9Lindsey 83 mins), Lindsey (M. Everitt 45 mins), Norman (Tanner 78 mins), Bower (Sly 73 mins), Dryden (Jones 70 mins), Jones (Glover 45 mins), Myall.

GRAVESEND & NORTHFLEET (first half): Kerr, Gooding, Smith, McCarthy, Glazer, Slatter (Drury 34 mins), Bowry, Maxwell (Saunders 1st minute), Jackson, MacDonald, Matten.

GRAVESEND & NORTHFLEET (second half): Kerr (Mott 79 mins), Heerio, Smith, Gooding, Skinner, Drury, Saunders, Lovell, Boot, Onoyomni, Higham. Other rolling substitutes: Moore, Groombridge, Yinka.

Attendance: 154.

End of Season/April 2005 Matches click here