Dover Athletic 4-0 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta’s pre-season programme began with a comprehensive defeat away to local rivals Dover Athletic on a summer’s evening at the Perry’s Crabble Stadium on Tuesday.

Invicta’s return to action gave the visiting contingent in the 569 crowd a first chance to see record appearance holder and goalscorer James Dryden back in Folkestone colours and an introduction to starters Matt Bourne, Lee Gledhill, Jimmy Jackson and Lee Spiller and substitutes Byron Walker and Danny Smith.

But the night belonged to last season’s Ryman League Division One South champions Dover Athletic who had begun their pre-season friendlies with a 1-0 win over Faversham at the weekend.

The early exchanges saw James Corbett warm the hands of the Dover goalkeeper from the right hand side after five minutes following a great crossfield ball from Jackson.

At the other end, a ninth minute cross from Dover right back Matt Fish was headed wide by striker Nathan Bailey.

Invicta new boy Jackson soon required treatment after an early injury and there was a worrying sight for Dover fans as new signing Sammy Moore was stretchered off and replaced by Alan Pouton.

Corbett chipped over for Invicta on the half hour mark after striking partner Dryden had nodded the ball on.

But it was the home side who opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Jon WALLIS made space for himself on the left hand side of the penalty area and hit a low shot into the far corner of the net.

Wallis was close again in the 40th minute when he took the ball down well on the edge of the penalty area and curled his shot just wide after Bailey’s ball in from the right hand side had come back out.

Dover increased their lead on the stroke of half time when Frannie COLLIN beat goalkeeper Charlie mitten from the penalty spot after Bourne had brought down Wallis following an exchange of passes between the midfielder and Collin.

Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover dominated the second half as they turned on the style, with impressive performances from substitutes Jerahl Hughes and Sam Jones.

Half time substitute Shaun Welford’s 50th minute shot was deflected for a corner by Invicta centre half Liam Friend after the ball was nodded down the middle.

It was WELFORD who made it 3-0 after 55 minutes with a clinical snapshot on the turn which Mitten got a hand to but could not prevent from going in off the post.

The game was well and truly over as a contest three minutes later when HUGHES got in behind left back Josh Burchell and hit a composed finish past Mitten after a good ball by Jones.

A 70th minute Hughes shot was plucked out of the air by Luke Stonebridge and the substitute goalkeeper pushed the ball over the crossbar for a corner following a great run down the right hand side by Hughes after 78 minutes.

Invicta were close to a consolation goal in the 79th minute when substitute Dave Cook put the ball over the goalkeeper when Corbett played him through, but a defender was able to get back and clear for a corner before the ball could cross the line.

Dover were enjoying themselves at the other end as they ran at the Invicta defence and Spiller was booked in the 87th minute for a reckless challenge on Jones as the visitors’ frustrations grew.