Invicta 1-3 Dulwich Hamlet

Folkestone Invicta found themselves well beaten by second-placed Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday afternoon despite taking an early lead through Josh Burchell.

Dulwich, who had beaten Invicta 5-2 in south London at the end of November, looked impressive throughout and the final corner count of 13-0 in the visitors’ favour reflected their superiority on the day.

Invicta went into the game without leading goalscorer Stuart King (hamstring) and struggled to impose themselves as an attacking force against the club with the best defensive record in the Ryman League Division One South.

The home side had got off to a great start as BURCHELL received the ball from James Everitt and his curling shot from the edge of the penalty area went in off the far post.

Burchell had started the game in an advanced role as Invicta looked to compensate for the absence of King. He had also opened the scoring at Dulwich earlier in the season before the home side hit back.

But Dulwich responded as Ishmail Kamara and Nyren Clunis combined but Invicta central defender Frankie Chappell cleared in the middle for a corner.

Right back Kalvin Morath-Gibbs then got a shot in but straight at goalkeeper Jack Delo after a Clunis ball.

And the visitors were level in the 24th minute thanks to a strong KAMARA header after a Kevin James corner from the right.

A good James strike from outside the area was then touched onto the crossbar and over by Delo a minute later.

Invicta captain Micheal Everitt blocked Frankie Sawyer’s 28th minute shot when Kamara played the ball back to the edge of the box and Kamara headed over two minutes later after combining with Clunis.

Omarr Lawson hit a low 32nd minute shot at Delo after a move also involving Clunis, Charles Ofusu-Hene and Kamara.

Invicta rallied towards the end of the first half and Burchell shot wide from outside the penalty area.

Dulwich started the second half strongly and Clunis did not make the most of a 52nd minute opening when he played the ball in from the left, Sawyer shot wide on the turn two minutes later and a low Clunis shot deflected at Delo after a Kamara ball.

And the visitors’ second goal came via another James corner, this time from the left hand side, as a back header from MORATH-GIBBS flew inside the far post.

Invicta responded by bringing on new signing Damian Abel for Josh Vincent to make his return to Folkestone colours after leaving the club during the 2007-08 season. Captain Everitt dropped to right back.

The home side chased an equaliser and it was Burchell again who headed wide in the 71st minute after a Liam Dickson cross from the left.

Ofusu-Hene ran at the Invicta defence in the 73rd minute and hit a well-struck shot at Delo.

Invicta made another change as Antonio Gonnella came on for Dickson against one of his former clubs, with Burchell dropping to left back.

But it was Dulwich who were still looking the more threatening and Delo had to push an Ofusu-Hene shot round the post after a Clunis ball.

And any hopes Invicta had of finding a late equaliser disappeared when Delo conceded a soft penalty. The goalkeeper is usually very good with his feet but this time made a mess of getting the ball clear and ended up tripping Kamara.

JAMES had been the provider of the first two Dulwich goals but completed the scoring himself by smashing in the 83rd minute penalty.

Delo received a yellow card for his troubles, joining Dulwich’s Morath-Gibbs and captain Lewis Gonsalves in the referee’s notebook. The Dulwich pair had picked up silly second half bookings for simulation inside the penalty area and kicking the ball away respectively.

Dulwich threatened again in the 85th minute when the ball broke to Kamara down the right hand side and Invicta captain Everitt had to clear the striker’s subsequent lob off the line.

The defeat leaves Invicta one place outside the play-off places.

Having gone unbeaten at home in the league until late January, Invicta have now lost their last three games in front of their own supporters and conceded ten goals in the process.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent (Abel 63 mins), Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Dickson (Gonnella 78 mins), Smith, Marsden, J. Everitt, M. Everitt, Edge.  Unused sub: Mortimer, Hayward.

DULWICH HAMLET: Wilson, Morath-Gibbs, Pinnock, Ofusu-Hene (Snelling 90 ins), Duku, Gonsalves, Clunis (Ming 80 mins), Lawson, Kamara, James, Sawyer (Pinnock 75 mins).  Unused subs: Bowen, Rose.

Attendance: 322.