Folkestone Invicta 0-1 Welling United

Folkestone Invicta began their pre-season programme with a 1-0 defeat at home to Welling United at a sunny Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Centre half Rob GEIR scored the only goal of the game in the 62nd minute when he volleyed home from close range after a Michael Johnson free kick from the right hand side to give the Wings a 1-0 friendly win at Folkestone for the second successive summer.

The game gave supporters a glimpse of new signings and trialists, with goalkeeper Charlie Mitten, Charlie Glyde, Frankie Chappell and substitute Anton Innocent all making their first appearances in Invicta colours.

There have also been several changes at Blue Square (formerly Conference) South club Welling with the appointment of new manager Neil Smith and the visitors were close in the seventh minute when Invicta goalkeeper Mitten made a great tip over to keep out a Lloyd Blackman header.

The home side went straight down the other end and a Corbett shot was blocked by a defender, with the same player volleying over from just outside the penalty area ten minutes later.

Invicta centre half Roy Guiver made a vital 19th minute tackle on Blackman after Mouko had played the ball in from the right and a Blackman cross from the left hand side clipped the back of the crossbar three minutes later.

Mouko fired wide across goal from the right after 31 minutes when a crossfield ball presented him with a chance.

But Invicta were themselves desperately close in the 34th minute when Steve May cleared off the line to deny Corbett from close range following a ball in from the right.

Mitten made another good save to deny Johnson after 38 minutes when the Welling man raced through and seemed set to score but had to settle for a corner.

At the other end, Geir made a saving tackle on Ellis Remy when Corbett put the centre forward through two minutes later.

Blackman then chipped the ball just wide in the 44th minute when Andy Cotterill did well to thread the ball through to him.

The pitch at the Buzzlines Stadium was starting to look
very impressive after much work during close-season

The second half heralded the customary numerous substitutions, with Invicta themselves making six changes at the interval and Welling soon introducing goalkeeper Chris may, who had a loan spell with the Folkestone club last season.

Substitute Invicta defender Liam Friend got an important 52nd minute touch to thwart Blackman who could then only head over when Johnson played the ball across after finding space on the left.

Geir’s goal was to break the stalemate and the visitors had right back May to thank again for getting across to make a second goal line clearance in the 68th minute when substitute Damian Abel slid the ball past goalkeeper May after being sent clear down the right hand side.

Mouko shot wide on the turn from the left hand side of the penalty area in the 83rd minute with the game’s final noteworthy chance.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten (Stonebridge 45 mins), Glyde, Guiver, Chappell, Watson, M. Everitt, Briggs, Remy, Jones, Corbett, Innocent, Sly, Friend, Chandler, Abel, J. Everitt, Knott.

WELLING UNITED: Turner (C. May 52 mins), S. May, Ryan, Carpenter (Gards 57 mins), Geir, Sinclair (Moore 45 mins), Mouko, Cotterill (Kevill 58 mins), Powell (Martin 45 mins), Blackman (Sam 56 mins), Johnson (Smith 82 mins).