Both teams went into this game having won their first two, so it was no surprise that this was a close hard-fought encounter.
Despite there being no goals, it was an entertaining game which Invicta can perhaps count themselves unlucky not to have taken all three points, although ‘The Towners’ fought back well in the second half and had a couple of decent chances to score themselves as they finished the stronger.
Invicta made two changes to the starting line-up that won at Corinthian-Casuals the previous week, with Finn O’Mara coming in for the unavailable Matt Newman in the centre of defence, whilst in midfield, Scott Heard replaced Ian Draycott. Our opponents also made a couple of changes from the previous week with powerful striker Adam Cunnington, making his return to the starting line-up following injury, and Sam Youngs coming into the side.
Both sides had a good early chance, firstly Jordan Wright played the ball to Josh Vincent and his cross to the far post found Alfie Paxman at the far post, but he nodded wide when well-placed and then, at the other end, Sam Youngs had a similar chance, but he also nodded wide. Then came one of the more controversial moments of the game, Ade Yusuff and Ronnie Dolan combined well to win the ball and it was fed through to David Smith on the edge of the area, the powerful striker let fly only for the ball to cannon of the underside of the bar and somehow bounce out, although it did appear to have crossed the line, but sadly with no Azerbaijani linesman it wasn’t given! Although the goal-cam may give some interesting footage!!
Yusuff, who was again giving the opposing defence a torrid time, won a free kick on the right edge of the penalty area, but Dolan’s free kick was charged down by a wall that didn’t seem to be back the full ten yards, which made quite a difference when the height of the Enfield Town players was considered, they must have been one of the tallest sides we’ve played for a while. Then, Invicta seemed to have a decent shout for a penalty, as following good build-up play from Vincent, Dolan and Yusuff, Smith appeared to have been tripped in the area as he burst through, but the free kick was given right on the edge in a similar position to the last one. This time Paxman took the kick and the Enfield Town goalkeeper, Nathan McDonald, collected the ball low down under pressure from Smith. Our opponents then picked up the game’s first caution, Smith tried to break free from Jerry Gyebi, but the defender pulled him back which earned him a yellow card.
Although at this stage, Invicta were on top, our opponents were still creating chances and after Josh Urquhart sent in a good cross, Cunnington nodded the ball down for Mo Faal, but his shot was well blocked by Callum Davies and the ball was cleared. Despite this, we continued to press, Paxman fed Yusuff who jinked along the by-line before crossing for Wright, but his shot was blocked and in the ensuing scramble, McDonald collected the ball. O’Mara then played an excellent cross-field pass to Heard who nodded the ball into the path of Smith and with a gaping goal, he hit the defender on the line and the ball was scrambled clear, only for Yusuff to return it with a powerful cross which Heard tried to turn in at the far post.
Our opponents then made a couple of chances, firstly, following some good interplay, Percy Kiangebeni found Cunnington just inside the penalty area and he was unfortunate to see his shot bounce of the outside of the post to safety. Youngs then also had a shot from the edge of the area, but this time Tim Roberts saved easily, although shortly after he was forced to make a better save, as he tipped Faal’s low curling shot round the post. After Yusuff had shot just wide of the far post, Faal had another decent chance although he also shot wide having originally won the ball before then getting on the end of a pass from Nathan Smith. That was it for the first half, and the real surprise was that the game was still scoreless as both sides had chances to break the deadlock, with the consensus being that Invicta had shaded the half.
At the start of the second half, our opponents made a tactical change with Jerry Gyebi being replaced by Ryan Kirwan and they started the stronger of the two sides, with O’Mara earning a place in the Referee’s notebook following a blatant bodycheck on Faal as he tried to break through. Youngs continued to threaten, and he went on a jinking run which was stopped, not for the first time, by an excellent tackle by Invicta’s ‘Man of the Match’, Davis. Maja then played a good ball through to Kiangebeni, but Paxman did well to track back and tackle ‘The Towners’ midfielder before he could threaten the Invicta goal.
In the 70th minute, Ian Draycott replaced Heard, but our opponents continued to push forward, Kiangebeni sent in a good cross, but as Kiwan closed in at the far post, Wright got an important touch to glance the ball clear. Our opponents then made two quick substitutions as Lewis Taafe replaced Youngs, whilst Cunnington was replaced by Matt Walsh. Faal, who was getting increasingly involved and showing why he had attracted Bolton Wanderers to sign him, received a long kick from McDonald and after cutting in from the right, Roberts blocked his shot from an acute angle.
Enfield Town then picked up their second booking, as, not for the first time, Yusuff was fouled, and Nathan Smith duly received a yellow card. Tyler Sterling then came on as a late replacement for Wright and he was immediately involved as following yet another foul on Yusuff, he floated in a free kick from the edge of the area, which was met by Vincent, but his header was plucked out the air by McDonald. We then saw the other side of Sterling, as he went down in the area and was perhaps slightly fortunate not to get a yellow card himself for simulation.
Our opponents then picked up their third yellow card of the game, when Maja was booked following a foul on Smith, although it was probably more for an accumulation rather than that particular foul. From the free kick, Sterling sent in a great ball which was well cleared and suddenly Faal was on the break and after a good run, Roberts made an excellent save, only for the ball to bounce to Kiangebeni, but he couldn’t get much power on his shot and Roberts gathered the ball at his near post.
That was the last chance of the game, and a draw was probably about right as although we had the best of the first half, our opponents came back well in the second, and as at the end of the first half, the only real surprise was that there weren’t any goals.
After the game I spoke to Neil Cugley, who said: “I thought we were outstanding in the first half and should possibly have been 2-0 up at half-time, I’ve been told that the ball was over the line from Smithy’s [David Smith’s] shot although it was difficult to tell from where I was sitting. “To their credit they changed their system at half-time and caused us more problems in the second half with Tim [Roberts] making an excellent save towards the end. “I though Finn [O’Mara] did well coming in for Matt [Newman] and I was pleased that Heardy [Scott Heard] got another seventy minutes under his belt as his match fitness improves. “Thanks to the supporters who turned out again today, it was just a shame we couldn’t pick up the three points, but it was an entertaining game and hopefully you’ll be back for the next one.”
After the game, Ian Jelley, representing the Folkestone Skabour Festival, presented a well-earned ‘Man of the Match’ award to Callum Davis. In a game where the defences were on top, he produced several outstanding tackles to thwart the dangerous Enfield Town front line combination of Cunnington and Faal.
The Skabour Festival returns to the town this year from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th September.
Folkestone Invicta; Tim Roberts, Josh Vincent, Jordan Wright (Tyler Sterling, 86 mins), Finn O’Mara, Callum Davies (Capt), Ryan Johnson, Scott Heard (Ian Draycott, 71 mins), Ronnie Dolan, David Smith, Ade Yusuff & Alfie Paxman (Unused substitutes: Kieron McCann, Micheal Everitt & Connor Collins).
Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Josh Urquhart, Nathan Smith, Scott Thomas (Capt), Jerry Gyebi (Ryan Kirwan, 46 mins), Rian Bray, Percy Kiangebeni, Sam Youngs (Lewis Taaffe, 75 mins), Adam Cunnington (Matt Walsh, 80 mins), Mo Faal & Mani Maja (Unused substitutes: Neville Nzembela & Lee Chappell).
Referee: Nick Dunn
Assistant Referees: Matthew Williams & Wayne Horsfall.
Attendance: Another excellent attendance of 839 today, thanks to everyone who came to the BuildKent Stadium to support their respective team, hopefully you enjoyed the game.
Next Fixture: On Monday (30th August), we visit Merstham for a Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division game of the season, kick-off 3:00pm.
Saturday’s Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division Results
| Bognor Regis Town | 1 | Haringey Borough | 2 |
| Bowers & Pitsea | 1 | East Thurrock United | 2 |
| Brightlingsea Regent | 1 | Leatherhead | 0 |
| Carshalton Athletic | 2 | Bishop’s Stortford | 0 |
| Cheshunt | 1 | Margate | 1 |
| Cray Wanderers | 1 | Worthing | 2 |
| Folkestone Invicta | 0 | Enfield Town | 0 |
| Horsham | 3 | Merstham | 0 |
| Kingstonian | 2 | Hornchurch | 0 |
| Potters Bar Town | 1 | Lewes | 3 |
| Wingate & Finchley | 2 | Corinthian-Casuals | 2 |
League Table
Following requests from a couple of our supporters, we’ll now publish the League Table at the end of each match report.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| Kingstonian | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Enfield Town | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Folkestone Invicta | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Worthing | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Cray Wanderers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Haringey Borough | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Brightlingsea Regent | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Cheshunt | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Margate | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Lewes | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | = | 4 |
| Carshalton Athletic | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | = | 4 |
| Wingate & Finchley | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | = | 4 |
| East Thurrock United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 4 |
| Horsham | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
| Leatherhead | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
| Potters Bar Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
| Hornchurch | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| Merstham | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 3 |
| Bognor Regis Town | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
| Corinthian-Casuals | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 1 |
| Bishop’s Stortford | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 1 |
| Bowers & Pitsea | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 0 |