Folkestone Invicta 1-0 Hastings United

Folkestone Invicta were given some festive cheer when a 64 th minute header from Frankie Chappell gave them a much-needed victory in a hard-fought Boxing Day afternoon encounter against Hastings United.

19-year-old centre half CHAPPELL scored for the second successive game when he rose to meet Kevin Watson's ball into the penalty area.

The all-important goal came following a corner on the right after a Damian Abel shot had been deflected out for the set piece when a good touch from Richard Shittu released Glyde and he played the ball into substitute Abel's path.

It had looked like being one of those days for Neil Cugley's side as they went in goalless at the interval despite dominating the first half.

And there were some anxious moments during the second half, with centre half Samuel Kola Okikiolu (pictured) magnificent on his 50 th starting appearance for the club in front of 18-year-old goalkeeper Luke Stonebridge and alongside teenage defenders Liam Friend, Tom Bryant and Chappell.

As in their previous game away to Wealdstone, Invicta had several chances to score during the first half without hitting the target.

Captain Watson set the ball rolling when his 15 th minute strike from 30 yards took everyone by surprise and was saved but not held by visiting goalkeeper Lee Worgan.

A ball into the penalty area from the left hand side just eluded Mark Saunders a minute later and Glyde hit a 17 th minute shot wide of the far post when a Leigh Bremner ball fell to him on the edge of the penalty area.

Worgan then kept out a good 21 st minute strike from Shittu when Bremner played him through after a Watson ball out of defence.

And Shittu headed wide with a good chance at the far post two minutes later when Watson sent over a corner from the right hand side.

A first half injury to Bremner did not seem to put Invicta out of their stride as Shittu could not quite force the ball in from close range in the 24 th minute when left back Liam Friend met a deep Watson free kick from the right with a strong header.

It had been all Invicta up until the half hour mark when Okikiolu slid back to make a saving tackle on Ade Olorunda as Hastings won their first corner of the game. And Friend had to hook the ball away at the far post from the subsequent set piece.

Okikiolu then denied Ade Olorunda again in the 33 rd minute following more trickery from the Hastings striker in the penalty area.

Olorunda's younger brother Tim hardly endeared himself to home supporters with a lunge at Saunders.

But the visitors were nearly punished from the subsequent Watson free kick when Rhys Whyborne cleared off the line after a strong far post header from Chappell.

Invicta were close again following another Watson free kick from the right after 39 minutes, while Tim Olorunda fired wide from the right hand side of the penalty area after 43 minutes.

And there was a scare for Invicta during first half stoppage time when Saunders had to clear from close to the line after a dangerous low ball in from the left hand side of the penalty area.

A long shot from Antonio Gonnella was deflected for a corner after 50 minutes and seconds later Invicta goalkeeper Stonebridge did well to keep out a Gonnella thunderbolt from outside the penalty area.

Abel fired just wide of the far post across goal in the 54 th minute following some good pace and skill on the right hand side in a move also involving Saunders and Watson.

Bryant blocked an Ade Olorunda shot for a corner when Gonnella touched the ball back after 55 minutes and striker Olorunda fired wide from the right hand side of the penalty area a minute later.

At the other end, Friend got forward again a curled a shot just high and wide from outside the penalty area after 61 minutes.

Following Invicta's goal, Tim Olorunda was soon booked for leaving a foot in on Bryant after 66 minutes.

Hastings pressed for an equaliser as Sam Adams headed over from close range following a 72 nd minute corner on the left and Adams shot just over from the right hand side of the penalty area two minutes later.

A 75 th minute shot from substitute Russell Eldridge was deflected for a corner when he had a chance to equalise at the far post and right back Ryan Andrews then let fly from distance.

Hastings centre half Kevin Rose was booked for bringing down Shittu when the Invicta striker broke clear into the visitors' half after 78 minutes.

Captain Jimmy Elford fired over from distance as the result was still in doubt going into the final ten minutes.

Invicta centre half Bryant then made a vital clearance from close to his goal line when substitute Frankie Sawyer put in a dangerous low ball across goal from the right hand side of the penalty area.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Stonebridge, Watson, Friend, Chappell, Bryant, Okikiolu, Glyde, Shittu, Bremner (Abel 22 mins), Saunders, M. Everitt. Unused subs : Sly, J. Everitt, Burchell, Conyers.

HASTINGS UNITED : Worgan, Andrews, Elford, Whyborne, Rose, Kirkwood (Eldridge 65 mins), Gonnella (Sawyer 86 mins), T. Olorunda, A. Olorunda, Adams, Carey. Unused subs : Russell, Spice, Seitsonen.