Maidstone United 2-0 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta’s disappointing recent run continued when they went down to two goals in the final 20 minutes from Maidstone’s Andy Martin in Saturday’s Kent derby at a windy Bourne Park in Sittingbourne.

After going unbeaten for 11 matches, Invicta have now gone seven matches without a win as they again failed to hit the target in a game that will not be remembered as a classic.

27-year-old MARTIN opened the scoring in the 73rd minute when he drove home from six yards after an Aaron Lacy corner from the left hand side was met by Mitten.

And MARTIN struck again to double his side’s advantage three minutes later when he dummied Charlie Mitten and curled the ball into the left hand corner of the net after being put through one-on-one against the goalkeeper by Rob Owen.

The visitors gave a debut to Tom Bryant, a 19-year-old loan signing from Gillingham, but were without the unavailable Mark Saunders, Samuel Kola Okikiolu (knee) and Leigh Bremner (hamstring).

Invicta had an early chance when home goalkeeper Pat Mullin tipped over a James Corbett volley from the edge of the penalty area after seven minutes, but that sadly was about as good as it got for the visitors in terms of chances.

And yet Neil Cugley’s side appeared to be on course for a point until one-time Wales Under 21 international Martin eventually broke the deadlock and then soon put the game beyond Invicta’s reach.  

For Maidstone, Luis Cumbers shot wide in the 13th minute following a Martin ball in a move also involving Ray Freeman and Mitten saved from Owen after 20 minutes when Cumbers turned provider.

Invicta centre half Frankie Chappell also got in to deny Martin after 34 minutes when Bryant’s headed clearance fell to Cumbers who played the ball back into the goal mouth.

Freeman shot over the crossbar for Maidstone after 62 minutes when Nathan Paul played a low ball into the penalty area.

Remarkably, this was the first league encounter between the respective towns’ senior sides since the 1973-74 season.  

The win takes Maidstone level with Invicta on 19 points half way up the Ryman Premier League table as the home side extended their unbeaten run to eight matches after a poor start to the season. 

MAIDSTONE UNITED: Mullin, Paul, Roser, Lewis, McNish, Owen, Tydeman, Lacy, Cumbers (Takaloo 78 mins), Martin (Tiesse 86 mins), Freeman.  Unused subs: Strouts, Peacock, Hegley.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten, Watson, Edge, Chappell, Friend, Bryant (Sly 76 mins), M. Everitt, J. Everitt, Remy, Abel, Corbett.  Unused subs : Briggs, Burchell, Stonebridge.