Folkestone Invicta won the Sid Burvill Cup with a 3-1 victory over Billericay Town on Friday night’s game at the Buzzlines Stadium as goals from strikers Stuart King (2) and Paul Jones gave the home side a 3-0 half time lead.

The Sid Burvill Cup is traditionally played pre-season at Cheriton Road as a one-off game in memory of the club’s former gateman, whom the gates at the cricket end of the ground are named after.

Billericay were in Kent for the weekend to play this game and were due to play at Sittingbourne on Saturday.

But that match was postponed as Billericay defender Chris Wild was air-ambulanced to hospital when he fell from the balcony of his hotel room. Initial indications were that he had suffered two broken wrists and a broken ankle.

The police evacuated the hotel due to safety concerns.

The Essex side had been let down by some slack first half defending in the game on Friday night.

Invicta, by contrast, had a far more solid look about them as the new Ryman League season approached on August 20th. Defenders Roland Edge and Liam Friend made their first appearances of the summer for Invicta and the forwards were able to fill their boots during the opening half an hour.

Friend is still with the club following the collapse of his possible transfer to Margate as the two clubs could not agree on a fee after the central defender had played in two friendly games for the Ryman Premier League club.

It was Invicta’s big summer signing KING who took full advantage as early as the third minute when he stroked the ball into the net from the left hand side of the penalty area when goalkeeper Nick Morgan failed to come and claim the ball after it was played over the visiting defence. A real poacher’s goal.

King then hit a low long range free kick at Morgan.

And KING duly made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute with another good finish as he latched onto an Edge ball over the defence and struck a low shot into the net.

Billericay were given a chance to get back into the game but Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo saved Jay May’s 26th minute penalty and Harrison Chatting’s rebound.

The penalty was awarded when Benson Kpaka was impeded after he had gained possession as Matt Hollyoak attempted to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.

JONES made it 3-0 in the 27th minute when he capitalised on a mistake by centre half Rob Swaine and got in behind the Billericay defence again before finishing well.

Invicta had fully exploited Billericay’s defensive frailties to run up a convincing lead.

At the other end, Chatting dribbled through and shot wide following a 37th minute one-two with May.

Invicta made several half time substitutions, including goalkeeper Roddy Hayward coming on for goalkeeper Delo who had picked up a calf injury.

Billericay rallied during the second half and right back Sam Berry shot at Hayward in the 55th minute.

Substitute Tony MARTIN made it 3-1 with a neat 72nd minute header from a Berry cross on the right for a well-worked goal.

Invicta substitute Roy Guiver got a first run out following a summer of illness as a late replacement when James Dryden himself picked up a knock.

And fellow substitute striker Richard Atkins again made an impression as he latched onto a ball down the right hand side of the penalty area and shot wide across goal.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo (Hayward 45 mins), Hollyoak, Edge (Dickson 45 mins), Friend, Chappell, Moreby (J. Everitt 45 mins), M. Everitt, Vincent (Sowle 45 mins), Jones (Atkins 45 mins), Blewden (Dryden 45 mins, Guiver 81 mins)), King (Burchell 65 mins).

BILLERICAY TOWN: Morgan, Berry, Hawes, Semankula, Patten, Swaine, Kpaka, Edwards, May, Chatting, Luke. Subs: Toms, Thomas, Martyin, Radley.