Folkestone Invicta 1-0 Hillingdon Borough

Folkestone Invicta made it into the Fourth Qualifying Round of the F. A. Cup for the second time in three seasons as a 72nd minute header from Ellis Remy was enough to give them victory over Hillingdon Borough at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Having drawn at home in the previous two rounds before winning away from home, Invicta this time were able to settle the issue at the first time of asking as centre forward REMY headed home at the far post when Micheal Everitt chipped in a good ball from the right following a short Kevin Watson corner.

It was a fifth successive clean sheet for Invicta – which must be something of a club record in itself – but the Folkestone side had to grind out a result as their last five matches have now produced a total of just three goals.

The home side went into the game with player-coach Mark Saunders back in the starting line up, but fellow former Gillingham player James Corbett still out injured on a sunny afternoon.

And it was the visitors who started brightly as Chris Hibbs shot wide across goal with a chance after just two minutes when the ball fell to him after Leon Nelson had challenged goalkeeper Charlie Mitten to a cross on the line.

But Invicta were close after 13 minutes when Hillingdon goalkeeper Matt Davis made a good save with his feet to deny Saunders.

A Roland Edge far post header was headed out for Invicta’s first corner after 19 minutes following a Watson free kick on the right.

Davis then palmed away a low Micheal Everitt shot from 25 yards after 27 minutes.

Hillingdon goalkeeper Davis was called into action again after 38 minutes when he got down to touch a well-drilled Edge shot round the post for a corner as a Watson ball from the right eventually fell to the Invicta captain on the edge of the penalty area.

Invicta were close again in the 42nd minute when Remy shot against the outside of the post from the right hand side of the penalty area after Mitten had cleared the ball up to Leigh Bremner.

Hillingdon started the second half with a couple of chances as Nelson headed wide from Sam Byfield’s 47th minute free kick on the right.

A Mark Kirby shot was then deflected into the side netting for a corner in the 51st minute when Nelson wanted too much time after a ball in from the right presented him with a chance.

But Invicta stepped up the pressure as James Everitt moved up to support the front town and Watson began to get further forward down the right hand side.

Centre half Chris Phillips cleared from close to the line when Watson played the ball in on the hour mark and Invicta signalled their intent as striker Damian Abel replaced defender Frankie Chappell.

And Remy’s goal came as a relief to home supporters as the prospect of another replay loomed.

But Hillingdon responded and went in search of an equaliser as Byfield went down under challenge from centre half Liam Friend when Dave Lawrence played the ball into the penalty area after 75 minutes.

And Mitten had to come out to save from Byfield a minute later when Lawrence played the ball through to him again.

Substitute Lucas Williams then shot wide across goal with a clear chance to equalise for Hillingdon after 83 minutes.

Invicta threatened again after 86 minutes when Bremner whipped in a cross from deep on the left hand side which flashed just past Remy in the middle.

The home side had to re-adjust again when defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu suffered a late injury, with Watson moving across to centre half and the versatile James Everitt reverting to right back.

A James Duncan shot flashed past the Invicta post from outside the penalty area during stoppage time, but it was not to be for the visitors.

Invicta’s Edge was the game’s only booking for a 29th minute challenge on Hibbs.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten, Watson, Edge, Chappell (Abel 66 mins), Friend, Okikiolu (Briggs 86 mins), M. Everitt, Saunders, J. Everitt, Bremner, Remy.  Unused subs: Burchell, Sly, Stonebridge. 

HILLINGDON BOROUGH: Davis, Brown, Fenton (Mengeli 81 mins), Howell, Phillips, Duncan, Lawrence, Kirby, Hibbs (Bennell 77 mins), Nelson, Byfield (Williams 77 mins).  Unused subs: Turner, Harris.