Folkestone Invicta 2 Windsor & Eton 2

RM Aug 30, 2004 Attendance: 374

A dramatic injury time equaliser from John Guest saved the day for Folkestone Invicta as they drew 2-2 at home to second-placed Windsor & Eton at the Westbourne Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

GUEST got the final touch in a crowded goal mouth four minutes into stoppage time when fellow centre half Adam Flanagan headed the ball down after captain Mark Munday had dinked it in from the left hand side.

The last ditch equaliser came just moments after Windsor striker Peter Holsgrove had been sent off for a needless challenge into the back of Guest as the Invicta defender headed the ball clear on the half way line.

Holsgrove thus went from hero to zero as he had earlier put the visitors 2-1 ahead after 51 minutes for what had looked like being the winning goal.

Windsor had earlier opened the scoring through Lewis Cook after 17 minutes, but James Dryden headed Invicta level seven minutes later.

The team news was good for Invicta as strikers Simon Glover and John Ayling were both unexpectedly passed fit, with captain Scott Lindsey (ankle) the only absentee.

Morgaro Gomis fired over for Windsor from the edge of the penalty area in the third minute.

And the visitors went ahead when COOK cut in from the right hand side and hit a low shot inside goalkeeper Tony Kessell's near post.

But Invicta were level with a great goal after 24 minutes when top goalscorer DRYDEN leapt to head the ball into the bottom corner of the net when Paul Lamb played an inviting ball in from the left hand side.

Invicta were close again after 40 minutes when Glover lashed the ball into the side netting from the left hand side when goalkeeper Chuck Martini could not hold an Ayling shot.

22-year-old Ayling was making one last appearance for Invicta before setting off to America to embark in a scholarship in New England following 68 starting appearances for the Folkestone side and a further 120 as a substitute.

Munday played Ayling in down the left after 50 minutes, but the ball was cleared for a corner when cut back to the in-coming Glover.

Windsor regained their lead a minute later when HOLSGROVE hit a speculative shot from outside the penalty area on the right hand side which first hit the far post and then the crossbar before crossing the line.

Flanagan then made a saving tackle on Tony Reid when Gomis slid the ball through after 53 minutes.

Invicta responded and Guest shot against the crossbar from close range when Dryden nodded a Lamb corner from the right onto the far post after 54 minutes.

Glover then hit a low shot wide in the 57th minute after skipping past two challenges.

Moroccan goalkeeper Martini then made a great save to keep out a Dryden header after 63 minutes when Micheal Everitt played the ball in from the left following a move also involving Glover and Lamb.

Invicta were creating chances, but left back Ryan Parsons was there to block when Glover played the ball through to Dryden after 71 minutes.

The visitors did not win a corner all afternoon but looked like taking all three points.

Guest was booked for dissent after going down inside the penalty area following a corner from the right after 82 minutes and that was just the start of the late drama involving the in-form 22-year-old defender.

There were also bookings for Windsor's Gomis (clattering into Drew Watkins after 33 minutes) and defender Paul Holsgrove (late challenge on Martin Chandler after 68 minutes).

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Everitt, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Ayling (Pulman 65 mins), Glover. Unused subs: Rook, Coleman, Walker, Morrin.
WINDSOR & ETON: Martini, Tilbury, Parsons, Skinner, Holsgrove, Gomis, Kersey, Cook, Holsgrove, Reid (Walsh 76 mins), Adams (O'Connor 59 mins). Unused subs: Townley, Oatley, Greene.

Harrow Borough 1 Folkestone Invicta 0

RM Aug 28, 2004 Attendance. 130

Folkestone Invicta were beaten 1-0 away to Harrow Borough on Saturday afternoon following a disappointing performance at Earlsmead.

Expectations were high after Invicta's convincing 4-0 midweek win at Leyton, but this was to the Folkestone side's worst performance of the season so far as they went down against a side who had not previously won in the Ryman Premier League at the start of this campaign.

Invicta went into the game with Welling United goalkeeper Danny Skinner coming in for the suspended Tony Kessell who missed his first competitive game since joining the club during the summer of 2003 after an unbroken run of 65 matches.

Also making his debut in attack was 19-year-old striker Ian Pulman, signed on a month's loan from Margate, with an ankle injury meaning that John Ayling had to take up his familiar substitutes' role once again prior to his scholarship in America.

Pulman shot just wide of the post when James Dryden played a low ball in from the left after 12 minutes, but that was to be about as good as it got for the visitors.

At the other end, Paul Hamer's shot on the turn clipped the Invicta crossbar after 16 minutes.

Pulman then hit a low shot at goalkeeper Keita Karamoko a minute later when Simon Glover touched on centre half Adam Flanagan's forward ball.

But Invicta had to re-adjust when captain Scott Lindsey limped off in the 20th minute after turning his ankle, with John Walker coming on at right back and Micheal Everitt pushing up into midfield.

The visitors were looking out-of-sorts as top goalscorer Dryden was playing too deep and they could find no way past Harrow central defender and captain Dean Marney.

Brian Haule shot wide for Harrow after beating John Guest down the left hand side after 24 minutes and Osman Hasan's free kick was touched round the post by Skinner when Guest was adjudged to have fouled Haule after 28 minutes.

Danil Dyer then tested Skinner from outside the box in the 34th minute following an untidy period of play from Invicta.

And the only goal of the game came after 35 minutes when Mark Munday gave the ball away in midfield and HAULE turned in the box to hit a low shot into the net following passes from Dyer and Hasan.

Things did not get much better for Invicta after the interval as they lost Glover to injury and could find no way back.

Hamer was denied first by Guest and then by Flanagan after 52 minutes and Steve Dogbe should have increased Harrow's lead from close range after 59 minutes when Walker gave the ball away to Haule down the left and the goalscorer played the ball over to Hasan at the far post.

Dyer then blasted over when Haule played the ball back to him after 65 minutes.

Munday curled a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area in the 68th minute and Invicta went for broke when Mark Rook replaced Walker after 85 minutes and the three at the back often became two as Flanagan also pushed forward in search of a late equaliser.

Skinner saved a low shot from Haule when a big kick from Harrow goalkeeper Karamoko sailed over the Invicta defence during injury time.

But Flanagan had a chance to equalise deep into stoppage time when his far post shot was blocked after Everitt had played the ball in from the right.

There were bookings for Harrow's Paul Johnson (rash challenge on Glover after 45 minutes), Haule (encroachment when Everitt took a free kick after 76 minutes) and debutant substitute Roy Jones (kicking the ball away after 77 minutes) and for Invicta's Guest (bringing down Haule on the left hand edge of the box after 48 minutes).

HARROW BOROUGH: Karamoko, Johnson, Sterry, Walters, Norman, Marney, Dyer (McGonigle 73 mins), Dogbe, Haule, Hamer (Jones 85 mins), Hasan. Unused subs: Lamb, Henry, Hunt.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Skinner, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey (Walker 19 mins, Rook 85 mins), Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Pulman, Glover (Ayling 67 mins). Unused subs: Dyson, Morrin.

Leyton 0 Folkestone Invicta 4

RM Aug 24, 2004 Attendance. 90

Folkestone Invicta enjoyed a morale-boosting win as they romped to an emphatic victory away to Leyton in east London on Tuesday night thanks to goals from strikers Simon Glover (2), James Dryden and John Ayling.

This was just the tonic Invicta needed after their last-ditch home defeat against Yeading on Saturday as Neil Cugley's side raced to a 3-0 half time lead.

After a lively opening quarter of an hour, Invicta opened the scoring after 18 minutes when DRYDEN unleashed a sweet strike into the back of the net for his third goal in three games.

It was 2-0 in the 30th minute when following a quick free kick, Ayling put GLOVER clean through and the blond striker made the most of the time and space he had to open his account for his new club following a summer move from Dover Athletic.

Invicta were enjoying themselves on a good playing surface and AYLING made it 3-0 from close range when Glover skipped past two defenders down the left flank to get into the box after 43 minutes.

Ayling was back in the starting line up for one more farewell appearance before embarking on a scholarship in America as Invicta have released Jamie Wood.

GLOVER completed the scoring when he struck again to make it 4-0 after 54 minutes when he shrugged off a defender and lobbed the ball into the back of the net.

Leyton had won two of their opening three Ryman Premier League matches of the season and will be by no means the worst side Invicta face in their new division.

It was an open game from the start as Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell tipped over a well struck shot from James Hawes as early as the third minute following a move involving Paul Armstrong and Mark Sophocleous.

At the other end, the pace of Glover and Ayling was always likely to cause the home defence problems and the latter hit a low shot just wide of the far post from the left hand side in the fourth minute.

Manny Williams shot just wide from the edge of the box for Leyton after combining with Danny Jones in the 11th minute and former Stevenage Borough striker Armstrong did well to make room for himself and shoot just wide of the post from the right hand side two minutes later.

Ayling shot wide from the edge of the box when Glover played the ball back to him on the quarter of an hour mark.

And Invicta soon had a stranglehold on the game when they established a two-goal lead.

Dryden hit a free kick just over the crossbar from a dangerous position right on the edge of the box when Hawes fouled Glover after 35 minutes.

Kessell then had to save a Hawes shot at the other end in the 42nd minute following a move also involving Jones as Leyton sought a way back into the game. But Invicta's final two goals either side of half time were to put the result beyond any reasonable doubt.

Remarkably, Invicta had to wait until the 79th minute to force their only corner of the night, while their well-beaten hosts gained eight. But this was to be an away day to savour for the Folkestone side and their travelling supporters.

Leyton defender Scott Honeyball was booked for raising his arm to Glover when the Invicta player raced past him down the left flank after 69 minutes and substitute Leli Bajada followed him into the referee's notebook for a foul on the again unflappable defender John Guest after 77 minutes.

Invicta also gave a first competitive outing to teenage substitute Mark Rook during the final ten minutes of the match.

LEYTON: Courtnage, Jones (Fannon 88 mins), Golby, Wood, Honeyball, Curley, Renner, Hawes, Armstrong, Sophocleous, Williams (Bajada 47 mins). Unused subs: Paul, Parkyn, Hasell.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday (Rook 81 mins), Dryden, Ayling (Walker 52 mins), Glover. Unused subs: Dyson, Morrin.

Folkestone Invicta (0) 1 Yeading (0) 2

RM Aug 21, 2004 Attendance 356.

Folkestone Invicta suffered last-ditch heartbreak as they went down 2-1 at home to early season league leaders Yeading at the Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon despite taking a second half lead through striker James Dryden.

Invicta ended up beaten when Yeading substitute Dean CANOVILLE was there to put the ball into the net at the far post in the 89th minute when goalkeeper Tony Kessell saved but couldn’t hold Leon Woodruffe’s shot across goal from the left.

The win left the Middlesex club as the only team in the Ryman Premier League with a 100% record after three games of the season.

Invicta had opened the scoring in the 47th minute when DRYDEN got the ball past defender Mark Kleboe and slotted the ball into the net from a Micheal Everitt ball down the right hand side.

Yeading were level after 70 minutes when Davis HAULE took the ball on in midfield and unleashed a fierce strike from 25 yards which flew into the Invicta net.

Invicta went close to restoring their lead in the 86th minute when Yeading goalkeeper Delroy Preddie came out to save from Dryden when Kleboe’s attempted back pass put his side into trouble when under pressure from Simon Glover.

The home side again defended well and Canoville’s late winner was cruel on the likes of goalkeeper Kessell and central defenders John Guest and Adam Flanagan. But Invicta’s main early concern is just how heavily they are relying on the hard-working Dryden to provide the goals this season.

Chances had been few and far between during the first half after Dryden had shot over from the left hand side of the box in the fifth minute.

Yeading striker Errol Telemaque then headed against the foot of the post from close range in a crowded goalmouth after 14 minutes. And Kessell got down to save with his legs when Telemaque got in behind Guest right on half time.

Dryden’s goal gave Invicta a perfect start to the second half. But Yeading responded as danger man DJ Campbell shot wide after Telemaque’s ball in from the right in the 51st minute and Kessell touched a Campbell shot over the crossbar when the striker made room for himself after 55 minutes.

Kessell saved a low shot from substitute Woodruffe when Keith Newby played a free kick into Campbell after 74 minutes.

At the other end, Glover shot over when he beat his man after being put through by substitute Martin Chandler in the 83rd minute.

Yeading substitute Nyron Saroya only came on after 90 minutes but became the game’s only booking when he tangled with Guest as Invicta attempted to take a free kick deep into stoppage time.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Chandler 68 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Everitt, Munday, Dryden, Wood, Glover. Unused subs: Walker, Rook, Dyson, Morrin.
YEADING: Preddle, Barima, Protain (Woodruffe 62 mins), Kleboe, Leach, Stanley, Haule, Brown, Telemaque (Saroya 90 mins), Campbell (Canoville 83 mins), Newby. Unused subs: Quamina, Stabler.

Folkestone Invicta (1) 1 Chelmsford City (0) 0

RM Aug 17, 2004 Attendance 385.

A 42nd minute header from James Dryden got Folkestone Invicta's season up and running as they took all three points from their first home Ryman Premier League game against Chelmsford City at the Westbourne Stadium on Tuesday night.

Hard-working striker DRYDEN got the decisive goal when he met a right wing cross from fellow local player Micheal Everitt.

The win was just the tonic Invicta needed after their equally narrow 1-0 opening day defeat at Salisbury on Saturday.

The Folkestone side welcomed captain Scott Lindsey back into the starting line up after suspension and gave a first start to little striker Jamie Wood.

There were chances from the start in an entertaining first half as new Chelmsford striker Andrew Douglas shot at Tony Kessell after two minutes and a 25-yard Drew Watkins free kick flew just wide of the Chelmsford post a minute later.

An Everitt shot was then plucked out of the air by Chelmsford goalkeeper Steven Graham after six minutes following a touch by Wood.

Chelmsford were close after 14 minutes when a 25-yard free kick from Kevin Watson came back off the Invicta crossbar and former Dover Athletic player Steve Norman's free kick from a similar distance bounced awkwardly in front of Kessell as the visitors forced their first corner of the game after 25 minutes.

For Invicta, Dryden made room for himself and hit a low shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area on the half hour mark.

But Chelmsford were finishing the half strongly and Douglas' header from Sammy Cooper's low cross had Kessell stretching after 33 minutes. Gary Ansell's shot on the turn then forced a corner from Kessell after the Chelmsford striker cut in from the right after 36 minutes and Lindsey cleared off the line from Liam Hopkins following the subsequent corner.

Dryden's goal lifted Invicta and the popular striker threatened again just a minute later when he beat defender Ian Cousins down the right flank and sent in a dangerous cross.

Kessell was in inspired form between the posts for Invicta after his late sending off at Salisbury on Saturday and got down again to keep out Hopkins' low shot right on half time following a move involving Norman and Cooper down the left.

The pacy Simon Glover blasted into the side netting after 57 minutes when he played a neat one-two with Everitt down the left hand side.

Invicta defended resolutely during the second half but had a let off after 75 minutes when Ansell fired wide when he seemed set to equalise after being put through down the middle. And Douglas couldn't convert from close range when Kessell appeared to have been fouled in the dying seconds.

Chelsmford substitute Russell Penn was the game's only booking for a foul on Paul Lamb after 77 minutes which led to a flare up as the Invicta left back reacted.

Substitute John Ayling came on for perhaps one last hurrah as he answered Invicta's early season call before heading for a scholarship in the USA.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Everitt, Munday, Dryden, Wood (Ayling 75 mins), Glover. Unused subs: Chandler, Walker, Rook, Morrin.
CHELMSFORD CITY: Graham, Watson, Cousins, O'Connell (Faulkner 70 mins), Edwards, Williams, Norman, Cooper, Douglas, Ansell (Forde 75 mins), Hopkins (Penn 61 mins). Unused subs: Butterworth, Crumpen.

Salisbury City (0) 1 Folkestone Invicta (0) 0

RM Aug 14, 2004 Attendance 530.

Folkestone Invicta had goalkeeper Tony Kessell sent off as they went down to a late penalty in their opening game in the Ryman Premier League at Salisbury on a sunny afternoon on Saturday.

Kessell was dismissed for bringing down Matt Tubbs as the striker went round him after Scott Bartlett's ball down the right bypassed substitute Steve Strong to leave Tubbs clean through after 81 minutes.

Substitute goalkeeper Dan Morrin's first touch was to pick the ball out of the back of the net as Adam WALLACE duly converted the subsequent penalty.

Invicta had looked good value for a favourable result at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium until they were denied in the closing minutes. The Folkestone side had shaded the first half when James Dryden and Mark Munday both had chances to put the visitors ahead when Drew Watkins whipped in dangerous free kicks after both 16 and 18 minutes.

In the absence of suspended captain Scott Lindsey, Watkins had played alongside Adam Flanagan and John Guest at the heart of the Invicta defence, with Simon Glover making his competitive debut for the club and John Walker also in the starting line up.

Striker Dryden volleyed wide from close range when Watkins sent in a good delivery following a foul by Bartlett after 16 minutes. And stand-in captain Munday's glancing header then went wide of the post when Watkins repeated the trick two minutes later following another foul by Salisbury captain Bartlett, this time on Walker.

Salisbury responded and Wallace shot high and just wide from the edge of the box following an exciting run in the 21st minute and Tubbs forced a corner from Kessell when he let fly from 25 yards a minute later.

At the other end, Dryden couldn't direct the ball into the net after 43 minutes when Guest played the ball back across goal when Paul Lamb's corner from the right fell to him at the far post.

A good strike from Salisbury's Matt Davies was comfortably saved by Kessell after 53 minutes and the Invicta goalkeeper was called into action again after 70 minutes to deny Tubbs when Josh Thomas' ball forward put the young striker in behind Watkins.

A Craig Davis shot then flew just past the Invicta post when he let fly from 25 yards in the 72nd minute.

For Invicta, a dangerous Glover cross from the right flew just in front of the acrobatic Dryden in the middle after 74 minutes.

But Wallace's late penalty was to give Salisbury a winning start under new team manager Mark Kelly.

The game opened up as Invicta chased an equaliser and a Strong shot flashed across the visitors' goal from the right hand side after 85 minutes.

Centre half Flanagan headed over a Watkins free kick at the far post for Invicta after 87 minutes, but Guest had to make a saving tackle to deny Wallace as the Invicta defence became stretched a minute later and Tubbs played an inviting low ball across to his striking partner.

As well as Kessell's dismissal, there were bookings for Salisbury's Davies and for Invicta's Watkins, Guest and Everitt.

SALISBURY CITY: Sawyer, Bartlett, Lisk, Cook, Thomas (Holmes 84 mins), Davies (Strong 68 mins), Howes, Davis, Wallace (Phillips 90 mins), Tubbs, Bond. Unused subs: Cooper, Hedges.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Everitt, Chandler (Ayling 84 mins), Munday, Dryden, Walker (Morrin 82 mins), Glover (Wood 84 mins). Unused subs: Rook, Dyson.

Folkestone Invicta (1) 1 Welling Utd (1) 3

RM Aug 07, 2004 Attendance .

A hat-trick from striker Paul Booth gave Welling United victory as Folkestone Invicta went down 3-1 amidst glorious sunshine in their final pre-season friendly of the summer at the Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

BOOTH opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Danny Slatter met one-time Invicta man Anthony Browne's cross from the right which evaded young goalkeeper Kieran Mann who was deputising for regular custodian Tony Kessell (attending a wedding).

Invicta were level after 22 minutes when Simon Glover's cross from the left was only touched out by goalkeeper Martin Brennan and striker James DRYDEN was there to bury the ball into the net.

Glover was able to use his pace down the flanks as Invicta brought in striker Jamie Wood, who scored a lot of goals as Cray Wanderers won the Kent League in both 2003 and 2004 under his uncle Ian Jenkins. Wood also scored both goals as Cray completed the double in 2003 with a 2-0 cup final victory over VCD Athletic at Invicta's ground, a game in which Drew Watkins came to the attention and subsequently signed for the Folkestone club.

Wood had played for Gravesend & Northfleet in an earlier pre-season friendly against Invicta and looks as though he could be a useful addition to their squad.

BOOTH restored Welling's lead when he slotted home when the ball fell to him inside the penalty area after 43 minutes.

And BOOTH stepped up to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot after 78 minutes following a handball decision against defender John Walker when he charged the ball down from George Lay. Curiously, it was the fourth second half penalty at the Town End - three of them disputed - which Invicta have conceded in their last three friendlies.

Welling manager Paul Parker has assembled an experienced side - with four new signings from Dover Athletic alone - as they prepare for their first campaign in the newly-formed Conference South.

But Invicta made a bright start as debutant Wood scuffed his shot wide when Micheal Everitt put him through as early as the fifth minute.

After Booth's first goal, fellow striker Phil Collins put the ball just wide when he beat goalkeeper Mann to Brennan's big clearance after 22 minutes, immediately before the game's first drinks break.

Following Dryden's equaliser, Mann saved another Booth strike when Lee Spiller forced his way through down the right hand side after 38 minutes.

Booth's second goal gave Welling a half time lead and right on the interval Collins played the ball across goal and just in front of Slatter at the far post.

Substitute Martin Chandler shot over from the edge of the penalty area after 73 minutes following a move involving Scott Lindsey, Dryden and Wood.

But Booth's penalty put the result beyond doubt.

Invicta's Glover saw his free kick from the edge of the area touched over for a corner by Brennan after 83 minutes following a foul on former Dover Athletic striker Glover himself.

In a hard-fought game there were bookings for Welling's Danny Lye (foul on Wood after 60 minutes) and Invicta's Walker (late tackle after 61 minutes).

Welling lost Jamie Day to a head injury after 58 minutes, while Invicta centre half Adam Flanagan limped off with an ankle injury after 66 minutes, with Welling's Collins also receiving treatment in the same incident.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mann (Morrin 45 mins), Watkins (Walker 46 mins), Lamb, Flanagan (Lindsey 66 mins), Guest, Everitt (Wallis 79 mins), Wallis (Chandler 45 mins), Munday (Rook 79 mins), Dryden (Blackman 79 mins), Wood, Glover.
WELLING UNITED: Brennan, Browne, Wiles, Arnott (Lee 71 mins), Watts, Day (Lay 58 mins), Slatter, Spiller, Collins, Booth, Lye (Street 79 mins).

Folkestone Invicta (0) 1 Maidstone Utd (0) 2

RM Aug 03, 2004 Attendance .

Folkestone Invicta went down 2-1 in Tuesday night's friendly at home to Maidstone United, with all three goals coming during the second half.

Richard SINDEN scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 75th minute after Drew Watkins was adjudged to have fouled Jimmy Strouts.

Former Dover Athletic player STROUTS had himself opened the scoring after 65 minutes when he stabbed the ball home after Simon Austin had nodded down Aaron Lacy's cross from the right.

Centre half Adam FLANAGAN equalised when he headed in a John Wallis chip in the 71st minute following a free kick from the right.

Wallis had been recruited by Invicta from Gillingham's Under 19 side who had won a friendly 6-0 against Invicta's reserve side at the Westbourne Stadium last Thursday night. The potential deal is said to be similar to the one which brought James Millar to Invicta from Gillingham two years ago.

Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume have assembled an experienced side at Maidstone as they bid to win the Kent League this season.

And the visitors had some early chances as an Austin shot flashed wide of the post in the ninth minute and the much-travelled Lyndon Rowland shot over across the face of the goal from the left hand side after 20 minutes.

At the other end, young Wallis used his pace to burst through down the right hand side after 22 minutes but his attempted ball across to Simon Glover was intercepted.

Sinden shot low across the Invicta goal after 28 minutes when Jason Barton slid the ball through to him down the left.

Glover couldn't quite force the ball past goalkeeper Tony Reynolds when given on-side to a Scott Lindsey ball after 32 minutes.

Martin Chandler then hit a snap-shot at Reynolds when the ball ricocheted to him inside the penalty area after 35 minutes.

Maidstone had a chance early in the second half when Austin shot over following Sinden's ball in from the left after 46 minutes.

After Maidstone had established their 2-1 lead, Wallis shot over from a central position just outside the box and Watkins sent a deep ball in from the right just wide of the far post after 84 minutes as Invicta chased an equaliser.

But there was to be no way back.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Walker, Lamb (Watkins 45 mins), Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler (Standen 45 mins), Everitt (Blackman 78 mins), Dryden, Glover (Hogg 53 mins), Wallis.
MAIDSTONE UNITED: Reynolds, Miller, Barton, Rowland (Buglione 62 mins), Hume (Hemens 45 mins), Royston, Lacy (Hogg 78 mins), Overton, Sinden (Sallis 78 mins), Austin, Strouts.

Folkestone Invicta (0) 0 Crawley (2) 5

RM July 27, 2004 Attendance .

Folkestone Invicta went down 5-0 against Conference newcomers Crawley Town at the Westbourne Stadium on Tuesday night, although the home side played better than the final scoreline might suggest.

The game was set up as part of the deal that took striker Allan Tait from Folkestone Invicta to Crawley back in March, but it will be remembered for the fanatical support Invicta received from some visiting German students who bought the club's scarves and replica shirts and made more sustained noise than is normally heard on the Folkestone terraces. All that was missing was a home goal.

On a sunny evening, Crawley opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Robbie KEMBER bundled the ball in from close range after Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell had initially saved a Charlie MacDonald shot from the left.

MacDonald then hooked a shot at Kessell after 16 minutes, while at the other end defender Kevin Hemsley narrowly avoided putting the ball into his own net when he intercepted Martin handler's attempted through ball to Simon Glover.

Kessell was at full stretch again to save from Daniel Marney after 22 minutes and the Invicta goalkeeper touched the ball over the crossbar a minute later when Mo Harkin let fly from 25 yards.

For Invicta, Glover lobbed the ball over the crossbar when given on-side to a big Kessell clearance after 27 minutes.

It was 2-0 after 29 minutes when HARKIN sent a sweet free kick into Kessell's right hand corner after a foul was given against Invicta captain Scott Lindsey who was involved in a flare up with big Fiston Manuella.

Invicta had their chances as James Dryden headed against the crossbar on the half hour mark and Mark Munday shot just over when Dryden nodded the ball down after 33 minutes.

At the other end, a low Macdonald shot flashed across the Invicta goal following Kember's through ball in the 40th minute.

Tait made his entrance after 54 minutes as a substitute for MacDonald and got a good reception from the Invicta supporters.

And Tait was involved in Crawley's third goal after 67 minutes when he touched on a corner from the left for Richard HARRIS to thump the ball home.

Tait was involved again after 75 minutes when he went down under challenge from Adam Flanagan and Robbie TRAYNOR duly made it 4-0 from the penalty spot.

Crawley were awarded another penalty a minute later when Lindsey fouled Darragh Ryan and Neil JENKINS stepped up to send the spot kick to goalkeeper Kessell's right and complete the scoring.

Perhaps feeling sorry for Invicta, referee Ian Regan blew for full time after just 87 minutes' action.

It did not dampen the enthusiasm of the visiting German youngsters who conducted a Mexican wave from the terraces, collected autographs from the players and chanting long after the final whistle.

Wunderbar.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins (Hogg 57 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Standen, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Glover, Lindsey. Unused subs: Blackman, Walker, Coleman, Morrin.
CRAWLEY TOWN: Smith, Judge (Palmer 61 mins), Jenkins, Hemsley, Simbemba, Manuella (Mapes 45 mins), Harkin (Ryan 61 mins), Kember, Marney (Harris 37 mins), MacDonald (Tait 54 mins), Traynor.

Folkestone Invicta (2) 6 Ashford (1) 1

RM July 24, 2004 Attendance .

Folkestone Invicta romped to victory as they hit Ashford Town for six to keep hold of the Sid Burvill Cup for a fifth successive summer amidst glorious sunshine at the Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Strikers Simon Glover and James Dryden both scored twice as Invicta ran away with the game during the second half to record their first pre-season win of the summer.

New signing Glover received the man of the match award from the Burvill family after the match as his pace had caused problems for his former colleagues from the start.

Invicta had the first chance of the game when Dean Standen brought a save out of John Whitehouse in the fifth minute, but at the other end a Barry Gardner shot struck the Invicta crossbar from the edge of the box after seven minutes.

The home side opened the scoring on the quarter of an hour mark when Standen and Dryden kept the ball on the deck and put GLOVER through for the blond striker to slot the ball into the back of the net.

But Ashford replied with the goal of the game after 19 minutes when one-time Invicta youngster GARDNER sent a sensational strike over goalkeeper Tony Kessell and into the far corner of the net from 35 yards out on the right flank.

Invicta restored their lead after 28 minutes when Mark Munday played the ball across from the right for GLOVER to strike again.

Glover was denied a first half hat-trick when he cut in from the right on the half hour mark but couldn't get enough power on his shot.

Anthony Hogg brought another save out of Whitehouse when Micheal Everitt played the ball across from the right after 36 minutes.

At the other end, Kessell partially saved from Jonathan Thorogood when Gardner played him through after 40 minutes and captain Scott Lindsey was on hand to hook the ball to safety from close to the line.

Tom Evans called Kessell into action again with a shot from the left hand side in the 47th minute.

But Ashford's resistance was to collapse after defender Aaron O'LEARY chested the ball past goalkeeper Whitehouse and into his own net after 52 minutes.

It was 4-1 after 63 minutes when MUNDAY was on hand to score at the far post when substitute goalkeeper Will Toal missed a Paul Lamb cross from the right.

Gardner shot at Kessell as Ashford tried to find a way back into the game in the 65th minute.

But it was now all Invicta and a superb 20 yard strike from Lindsey was touched over for a corner by Toal after 67 minutes.

Dryden volleyed at Toal following a Hogg ball in form the left after 70 minutes and Toal saved a fierce Dryden shot in the 75th minute when Martin Chandler and Hogg combined to put him through.

Invicta finished with a flourish as DRYDEN neatly controlled a ball from substitute Mark Rook after 81 minutes and rolled the ball into the net.

And DRYDEN struck again after 84 minutes when he drilled the ball into the net when Lee Blackman played the ball to him in a move started by Rook.

Youngster Rook had been spotted by Invicta manager when helping Bearsted's youths to beat their Invicta counterparts in their John Ullman Cup final at Tonbridge back in May.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Morrin 78 mins), Everitt (Walker 45 mins), Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Standen (Chandler 55 mins), Munday, Dryden, Glover (Blackman 77 mins), Hogg (Rook 77 mins).
ASHFORD TOWN: Whitehouse (Toal 55 mins), Holmes, O'Leary, Anderson, Adlington, Jonathan Thorogood, Gardner, McRobert (Beeney 45 mins), Joby Thorogood, Azzopardi (Percival), Evans. Unused sub: Reynolds.

Ramsgate (1) 3 Folkestone Invicta (1) 2

RM July 20, 2004 Attendance .

Folkestone Invicta were beaten 3-2 away to Ramsgate in Tuesday night's pre-season friendly at Southwood.

The home side opened the scoring after 28 minutes when former Margate striker Mo TAKALOBIGASHI lobbed goalkeeper Danny Morrin when defender John Guest could only head the ball out to him.

Young goalkeeper Morrin was making his first starting appearance for Invicta after a summer move from Maidstone United as manager Neil Cugley gave the night off to regular custodian Tony Kessell and other players from further afield such as Adam Flanagan, Drew Watkins, Anthony Hogg and Dean Standen.

Invicta were level after 34 minutes thanks to a glancing header from James DRYDEN when Paul Lamb played a corner in from the right.

Ramsgate restored their lead when one of their substitutes converted a cross after 57 minutes.

And the same player, on trial with the Kent League club, made it 3-1 after 78 minutes when he converted at the near post after a poor throw out from goalkeeper Morrin put Micheal Everitt into trouble.

Summer signing Simon GLOVER pulled a goal back after 84 minutes when he headed the ball home after Thanet resident Mark Munday had headed the ball back across goal following a great ball from Martin Chandler.

Invicta could have saved the day during the closing minutes as first Dryden went close when put through and then Ramsgate's substitute goalkeeper pulled off a top quality save to keep out a John Walker strike which had seemed destined for the back of the net.

And Walker's fellow defender Guest was denied a last ditch equaliser when he put the ball over the goalkeeper only for the ball to be cleared off the line.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Morrin, Everitt, Lamb, Walker, Guest, Lindsey (Munday 63 mins), Chandler (Lindsey 86 mins), Munday (Rook 34 mins), Dryden, Glover, Blackman (Dyson 69 mins).

Folkestone Invicta (0) 0 Gravesend & Northfleet (2) 2

RM July 17, 2004 Attendance .

First half goals from Justin Skinner (penalty) and Ray Essandoh gave Conference side Gravesend & Northfleet victory in Saturday's pre-season friendly at a wet Westbourne Stadium.

Kick off was delayed for 15 minutes to allow the pitch time to drain after the unseasonal thunder and lightning had left it drowned in puddles. The sun did come out when the action did get underway, but conditions remained farcical in some areas of the pitch.

It was Gravesend who opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Adam Flanagan brought down James Pinnock and left back Juston SKINNER stepped up to beat Tony Kessell from the penalty spot.

It was2-0 in the 45th minute when Invicta defender John Guest left the ball after a clearly audible call from goalkeeper Kessell, only for striker ESSANDOH to nip in and score in off the post from close range.

Pinncok had been denied when Kessell saved with his feet after 14 minutes in a move also involving Jay Smith and Moussa Sidibe.

For Invicta, Anthony Hogg shot just wide from the edge of the box when Simon Glover touched a Paul Lamb cross back into his path after 26 minutes.

Both sides made the customary pre-season substitutions for the second half and Jamie Wood headed a cross from the right over for Gravesend after 68 minutes.

Kessell saved from Steve McNamara after 77 minutes when the visitors spread play from right to left and Daniel Jeffrey shot over as Gravesend threatened again two minutes later.

Striker James Dryden missed Invicta's best chance of the game when he shot over in the 90th minute after being put through down the middle by Mark Munday.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Morrin 83 mins), Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest (Walker 45 mins), Lindsey (Munday 45 mins), Everitt (Chandler 45 mins), Standen (Rook 70 mins), Dryden, Glover, Hogg (Blackman 70 mins).
GRAVESEND & NORTHFLEET: Mitten, Skinner, Protheroe, Porter, Shearer, Rousse, McKimm, Smith, Sidibe, Pinnock, Essandoh. Subs: Wilkerson, Wood, McNamara, Ojelabi, Bounczi, Jeffrey.

Folkestone Invicta (0) 0 Gillingham (1) 1

RM July 07, 2004 Attendance 308.

A 32nd minute goal from Matt Jarvis was all that separated the two sides as Folkestone Invicta and Gillingham had their first pre-season run out at the Westbourne Stadium on Wednesday night.

JARVIS scored the only goal of the night with a low shot from the edge of the box after latching onto a through ball from Darius Henderson. Jarvis had also been on the scoresheet when Gillingham made a pre-season visit to Folkestone last summer.

But Invicta held their own against their Coca-Cola Championship opponents and probably felt the benefit of having been back in training for ten days, whilst the Gills had only returned from their summer lay off two days before the match.

It was the Gills who had the first chance on an unseasonally wet night as Mark Saunders headed over after just four minutes.

But the home side gave a good account of themselves and responded well after Jarvis' goal as striker James Dryden couldn't direct his header into the net when Gillingham goalkeeper Jason Brown came and missed a free kick after 35 minutes.

Dryden was close again after 38 minutes when he met Paul Lamb's cross from the left.

Home supporters got a first sight in Invicta colours of new signings Dean Standen and Simon Glover and the latter caught the eye with a tireless performance in a new attacking partnership with Dryden.

Gillingham included trialists Matt Bodkin and Patrick Ada Omgba from Cameroon in their starting line up and introduced French trialist Kevin Barallon as one of their many half time substitutes. New player-coach Iwan Roberts watched the game alongside player-manager Andy Hessenthaler and coach Wayne Jones.

Mamady Sidibe was the biggest of the half time substitutes in both build and star billing and the striker shot wide from the edge of the box after 56 minutes.

Mali international Sidibe was then denied by the feet of goalkeeper Tony Kessell after 64 minutes and goalscorer Jarvis shot wide across goal from the right hand side two minutes later.

Invicta brought on Lee Blackman for Standen after 66 minutes, with Dryden dropping back into midfield and immediately shooting just wide from outside the penalty area.

Danny Spiller didn't make the most of his chance when he shot over for Gillingham after 75 minutes.

Invicta brought on last season Under 16 starlets Shane Spearpoint and Luke Coleman after 79 minutes ,along with new goalkeeper Daniel Moran. And Moran was called into action immediately when he pushed a Barallon shot from the left away for a corner following a ball from Alan Pouton.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Moran 79 mins), Watkins, Lamb (Walker 45 mins), Flanagan, Guest, Standen (Blackman 66 mins), Chandler (Everitt 45 mins), Munday (Lindsey 45 mins), Dryden, Glover (Coleman 79 mins), Hogg (Spearpoint 79 mins).
GILLINGHAM: Brown (Bossu 45 mins), Nosworthy (Barallon 45 mins), L. Johnson (Saunders 48 mins), Beckwith, Rose, Saunders (Spiller 45 mins), Jarvis (Bodkin 80 mins), Crofts (Pouton 45 mins), Henderson (Sidibe 45 mins), Bodkin (Awuah 45 mins), Omgba (Crofts 64 mins).

Folkestone Invicta (1) 3 Newport IoW (0) 0

RM May 01, 2004 Attendance 322.

Folkestone Invicta completed another long, hard season with victory as two goals from James Dryden and one from 16-year-old substitute Oliver Waters gave them a final day win over Newport (Isle of Wight) at a sunny Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Playing their 61st match of the season, Invicta ended a run of nine matches without a win as they repeated the 3-0 win achieved on the Isle of Wight back in March.

Dryden had ended a barren spell of 15 games without a goal on that occasion and led the way again with two more goals before collecting the Supporters' Player of the Year award after the game.

And Waters was to re-write the club's record books as he became the youngest player to score a Dr Martens League goal for Invicta on his first league outing.

John Ayling remains the youngest player to score a senior goal for Invicta as his April 1998 goal in the Kent League against Greenwich Borough came at the age of 16 years and 40 days, five days ahead of Waters' landmark goal.

And Ayling came into the starting line up on Saturday at the last minute as a result of a warm up injury to centre half John Guest. Ayling has signed a new contract for Invicta but his hoping to embark on a two-year scholarship in the USA and his many fans will be hoping that this was not the last sight of him in Invicta colours.

Though still clearly not fully fit after his ankle ligament injury on the Isle of Wight back in March, Ayling still showed glimpses of his unique talent.

It was Ayling who created the game's first real chance when striker Lee Blackman shot wide on the quarter of an hour mark and Ayling himself shot tamely at stand-in goalkeeper Justin Hughes in the 22nd minute after showing great footwork when receiving the ball from Dryden.

Hughes normally plays on the pitch for Newport but had come in for injured goalkeeper Joe McCormack.

Newport had a good chance after 23 minutes when Chris Bridges was given on-side through the middle, but goalkeeper Tony Kessell saved and the ball looped over the Invicta crossbar for a corner.

Blackman shot just wide from inside the box after 27 minutes, but Invicta were ahead after 34 minutes when DRYDEN slotted the ball into the corner of the net when Ayling played him in.

Dryden came desperately close to scoring again after 36 minutes when he latched onto a through ball but saw his shot come back off the underside of the crossbar.

Invicta were close again after 39 minutes when Hughes clawed an Adam Flanagan header away when Paul Lamb played the ball in from the right after Ayling had played the ball out wide.

Newport threatened again after 42 minutes when Jamie White's 35-yard strike hit the Invicta crossbar.

At the other end, Flanagan shot just wide when Anthony Hogg played the ball in from the left after 44 minutes.

Micheal Everitt made a good saving tackle to deny White after 47 minutes and Danny Hatcher shot into the side netting when a ball over the defence had Invicta in trouble after 59 minutes.

But Invicta regained the initiative and Blackman headed at Hughes from substitute Darren Winfield's left wing cross after 68 minutes.

Blackman's involvement was ended after 72 minutes when a bodycheck from Newport substitute Simon Pilcher left him groggy with pain in his throat and collarbone and resulted in the game's only booking.

The home side finished with a flourish as DRYDEN headed in a Lamb cross from the left to make it 2-0after 84 minutes when the striker had himself initially played the ball out wide to the full back.

And WATERS opened his account for the club when he held his nerve to score after Dryden had nodded the ball through to send him away down the middle in the 89th minute in a move started by Everitt.

Everitt had himself been the previous youngest player to score a Dr Martens League goal for Invicta when he scored on his league debut as a substitute against Bashley in August 1999 at the age of 16 years and 10 months.

Goalkeeper Kessell kept his 20th clean sheet of a season during which he played in all of Invicta's 61 matches, the first Invicta player to complete a season as an ever present since big Carlton Wynter in the 1997-98 season.

Invicta's assistant manager Lee Dyson got his second outing of the season, both against Newport, as a late substitute for Blackman.

And 19-year-old John Walker, who had made his debut on the Isle of Wight back in March, again caught the eye in only his fourth staritng appearance.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Walker, Lamb, Flanagan, Ayling (Waters 60 mins), Everitt, Chandler (Winfield 54 mins), Munday, Dryden, Blackman (Dyson 77 mins), Hogg. Unused subs: Guest, Mann.
NEWPORT (Isle of Wight): Hughes, Buckman, Wood, Pilcher, Holmes (Isaacson 60 mins), White, Stevens, Youngs (Thorpe 88 mins), Bridges (Rayner 69 mins), Hatcher, Perry. Unused sub: McCormack.

April/May 2004 Matches click here