| Author: Richard Murrill |
Published: 31st August, 2009 |
A stoppage time winner from Michael Yianni gave Folkestone Invicta a fourth successive 1-0 victory as Neil Cugley's side took all three points from their Bank Holiday Monday visit to Burgess Hill in West Sussex.
The statistics make happy reading for the Folkestone club after their first win in three attempts at the ground. It was Invicta's third consecutive away win from the start of the season and a fifth clean sheet in six matches to keep them second in the Ryman League Division One South table on goal difference behind Godalming.
Goals have been scarce in Invicta's early season fixtures and that was again the case at a sunny Leylands Park.
Invicta have conceded just one goal in six matches so far this season and Yianni's late winner means that six different players have scored their six goals in half a dozen games.
Summer signing YIANNI opened his account for his hometown club when he found the net after home goalkeeper Joe Adams had parried a shot from Darren Smith when the midfielder ran into the penalty area after ca great ball out of defence from Liam Friend found Josh Burchell on the left flank.
Invicta gave a first senior start to Saturday's match winner Jon Driscoll as the teenager partnered James Everitt in attack in place of the injured James Dryden.
Chances were few and far between in the first half as a 15 th minute Jimmy Jackson free kick flew wide of the post from 25 yards and goalkeeper Adams kept out a Yianni shot when James Everitt touched the ball on in the 29 th minute.
At the other end, big centre half Tom Edmonds headed over Burgess Hill's first corner of the game taken by John Lansdale on the left in the 17 th minute.
Driscoll lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Adams in the 41 st minute but wide of the far post when left back Burchell played the ball over the home defence.
Yianni then shot wide of the far post in the 50 th minute after combining with Josh Vincent.
Burgess Hill responded as a Lloyd Cotton shot dipped over the crossbar from outside the penalty area a minute later.
Driscoll poked the ball wide in the 56 th minute when James Everitt got a touch after good play from Yianni in midfield.
And captain Micheal Everitt's shot flashed wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area after a move involving Vincent and Driscoll down the right.
Yianni headed at goalkeeper Adams on the hour mark following a Jackson corner on the right as the game was drifting towards a goalless draw.
Centre half Edmonds shot over for the home side from the edge of the penalty area in the 64 th minute and Invicta defender Friend got across to block from Lloyd Skinner at the expense of a corner eight minutes later.
Skinner then found Lansdale in the 74 th minute but his shot did not trouble visiting goalkeeper Jack Delo.
Invicta substitute Peter Williams was straight into the action on his first senior run out, but his 81 st minute shot at Adams lacked sufficient power following good build up play from Yianni and Smith.
And Yianni and Smith were heavily involved again as Invicta snatched the points at the end.
BURGESS HILL TOWN : Adams, Piper, Berry, Gainsford, Edmonds, Hurley, Lansdale, Cotton, Curd, Martin (Phillips 59 mins), Skinner. Unused subs : Barnard, Abbott, Carr, Greer.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith, Yianni (Dickson 90 mins), J. Everitt (Sommerville 72 mins), Driscoll (Williams 79 mins), Jackson. Unused sub : Dix.
Attendance : 187. |