Folkestone Invicta 0-0 Ashford Town (Mx)

Folkestone Invicta’s poor home record continued as they missed out on the chance to go sixth in the Ryman Premier League table when they could only draw 0-0 at home to Ashford Town (Middlesex) at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Invicta have only won one of their seven home league matches so far this season and scoring goals is clearly a problem as the Folkestone side have only found the net twice in their last five home matches in all competitions.

Saturday’s game might have been different had Invicta gone ahead early on when visiting goalkeeper Craig Ross made an excellent double save.

But after that Ashford grew in confidence and had the more of the chances as Invicta had to wait until the 76 th minute to win their only corner of the game.

The home side welcomed back captain Roland Edge (cut forehead) in place of Samuel Kola Okikiolu (calf), with wide men Damian Abel and Ben Sly keeping their places in the starting line up after the midweek 1-1 draw at home to Margate.

A Paul Johnson shot was blocked by Invicta defender Liam Friend with an early half chance for the visitors after seven minutes.

But Invicta were desperately close in the 13th minute when 18-year-old Ross touched Edge’s far post volley onto the post and then kept out Leigh Bremner’s close range rebound.

The visitors had two chances themselves in the 22nd minute as Symon James headed over at the far post when the ball came in from the left hand bye line and Scott Weight fired wide when Johnson played the ball out to him on the left hand side of the penalty area.

Weight then blasted over when the ball broke to him in the middle of the penalty area seven minutes later.

James Everitt and Sly both went up for the same ball when Kevin Watson played it in from the right hand side after 34 minutes and it was headed over.

But the visitors were more than holding their own as right back Vinnie O’Sullivan shot wide from the edge of the penalty area after 38 minutes and defender Stuart Bamford headed just over when Johnson played the ball in from the right two minutes later.

Johnson was involved again when he headed over at the far post with a good 48th minute chance after centre forward Jon Palmer had met Scott Todd’s corner from the right hand side.

Goalkeeper Ross came to his side’s rescue again when he saved with his feet to deny Bremner after 51 minutes, with the Invicta striker injured in the process and replaced by Ellis Remy.

Invicta threatened again seven minutes later when Abel nodded the ball on for James Corbett, but centre half George Hardy got across to block and also picked up an injury for his troubles.

At the other end, Palmer hit a low 64th minute shot at Charlie Mitten from the edge of the penalty area.

Mitten then touched a well-struck Palmer shot over the crossbar four minutes later.

The closing stages saw Invicta hanging on somewhat as Weight volleyed over from the right hand side of the penalty area after 81 minutes following a move involving strikers Palmer and Todd.

Mitten saved from substitute Scott Harris in the 84th minute after initially throwing the bal to Gavin Bamford and then saved from Harris again in two minutes later following a good run down the left from Jason Milletti in a move also involving substitute Ricky Wellard.

A challenge by Ashford captain Gavin Bamford on Corbett prompted a 50 th minute melee involving players from both sides in front of the dugouts which resulted in bookings for Invicta’s Corbett and Ashford’s Stuart Bamford.

There were also bookings for Inivcta’s James Everitt (bringing down James on the touchline in the 15th minute) and substitute Ryan Briggs (challenge on Johnson after 89 minutes).

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten, Watson, Edge, Chappell, Friend, Sly (Briggs 66 mins), M. Everitt, Abel, J. Everitt, Bremner (Remy 53 mins), Corbett.  Unused subs: Saunders, Burchell, Stonebridge. 

ASHFORD TOWN (Middlesex): Ross, O’Sullivan, Milletti, S. Bamford, Hardy, Weight, Johnson, G. Bamford, Palmer (S. Harris 81 mins), Todd (Wellard 81 mins), James (W. Harris 66 mins).  Unused subs: Logie, Burgess.