On a clear, but chilly autumnal evening, Invicta and Hornchurch took a share of the spoils in an entertaining game at the BuildKent Stadium, where the visitors had the best of the first half whilst we got back into it in the second.
With Josh Vincent and Jordan Wright fit to return, they replaced the unavailable Callum Davies and Kieron McCann, who went back to the bench, respectively. Our opponents made one change to their starting line-up from Saturday’s defeat in the Buildbase F.A. Trophy with Jili Buyabu replacing Ollie Muldoon.
Both teams spent the first ten minutes sparring for superiority with very few chances being created, but it was Invicta who had the first one when Alfie Paxman played the ball to Ade Yusuff, who in turn slipped it to the overlapping Jordan Wright and his cross was deflected away for a corner, which was cleared, but played back in by Matt Newman and David Smith’s shot was saved by Joe Wright in ‘The Urchins’ goal.
Five minutes later, we had our first anxious moment as an under-hit back pass looked like it was going to set up Billy Bricknell, but Newman was aware to the danger and got round to cover before the prolific striker could get his shot away. Then they won a corner from which skipper Lewwis Spence nodded over when well-placed, before Bricknell took a snapshot from the edge of the area which Tim Roberts collected with ease at chest height. Our opponents were upping the pressure and Liam Nash was the next to squander a chance when he shot over from the edge of the penalty area after Joe Christou had played the ball through. Nash was again involved as he charged down a Roberts’ clearance and although Newman won the race to clear the rebound, the ball was returned, and this time Remi Sutton shot over.
Mickey Parcell then played in Bricknell down the right-hand side and his cross was met by Nash, who was looking an increasing threat to the Invicta defence, but this time his shot was cleared, although it was looking as if the absence of Davies was unsettling our rear-guard, and after we lost the ball in midfield, our opponents broke down the right-hand side, only for Charlie Ruff to nod wide. Parcell then had a shot from the edge of the area which Roberts tipped over, the corner was eventually scrambled clear but only as far as Nash, who again shot wide of the goal.
Having been under a lot of pressure, we then suffered a further blow as Wright’s injury flared up again and he had to be replaced after just thirty-three minutes, with Kieron McCann replacing him. With five minutes in the half, Roberts made an excellent save diving to his left as Spence let fly from the edge of the area, his shot skidded along the ground, and the goalkeeper did well to not only save it, but also to hold the ball as Bricknell waited to pounce on any rebound.
In time added on at the end of the half, Invicta had a rare foray into Hornchurch territory, Yusuff did well to hold the ball and play it to Paxman who sent in a good cross, but it was cleared and that was the end of action for the first half, at the end of which we could count ourselves to be a bit fortunate not to be in arrears.
We started more brightly in the second half, and in the opening minutes, Kieron McCann sent in a good cross but Scott Heard was unable to divert his header past Wright, and then after Vincent had headed clear, Yusuff won a free kick around thirty-five yards out to the left of the goal, but when Ronnie Dolan sent it in, Smith nodded wide of the goal.
In the fifty-third minute came the incident which changed the dynamic of the game as ‘Urchins’ defender Rickie Hayles received a straight red card for a poor tackle on Yusuff. Vincent met the free kick, but his header was collected by Wright. As a result of the sending off, Ruff was taken off and replaced by the more defensive Ollie Muldoon in the fifty-sixth minute and then five minutes later, our opponents made a second change with Daniel Ory replacing Bricknell.
With the man advantage, Invicta started being more dominant, as firstly Newman saw his shot charged down at the far post and then Smith closed in on a free kick which was nodded on by Yusuff, but Wright reached the ball first, only for it to slip from his grasp, although he managed to clear at the second attempt as Smith challenged him. Dolan and Heard then combined to set up McCann, but his cross was collected by Wright, whilst at the other end, Hornchurch were still creating fleeting chances, and Buyabu combined with Christou, but the midfielder shot wide.
Then Wright’s hesitation almost gave Invicta a chance, as Yusuff cleverly dummied a pass to allow it to run through the defence, and Smith almost capitalised as Wright delayed picking it up unaware that the striker was behind him, whilst at the other end we had a let-off, Christou sent in a good cross from the left and Nash met it with a good header, but Roberts was equal to it, although he tipped it onto the bar before it was cleared.
Vincent and Paxman combined down the right-hand side with the former getting a cross which reached Smith, but his shot was deflected away for a corner. As the game got increasingly feisty as it entered the last fifteen minutes, McCann became the next in the Referee’s note book as he was booked for persistent foul play and then the Hornchurch skipper Spence was booked two minutes later for dissent.
Newman and Heard combined well to set-up McCann who forced Wright into a good save low down to his right after he left fly from the edge of the area. Invicta continued to push for the all-important goal and Vincent, perhaps looking to repeat his heroics of last season, shot over from the edge of the area as Hornchurch’s time-wasting tactics increased, although Parcell received their second yellow card for a foul on Paxman. Dolan played the free kick into the penalty area, and it cleared everyone, but found Smith unmarked at the far post, he sent in a powerful shot which was superbly saved by Wright at point-blank range and deflected away for a corner. This was cleared for a second corner from which Newman appeared to jump too early and so couldn’t direct his header towards the goal.
There then came a bizarre incident as Invicta were awarded a free kick by the dug-outs, and as they were going to take it, another ball was thrown on the pitch to cause further delay, which lead to the culprit, unused substitute Finley Thackway, receiving a yellow card!
Smith was then replaced with five minutes to go as Ollie Freeman came on, but it was Paxman who next went close as he shot over. We then nearly capitalised on a poor goal kick as it was hit straight to Dolan in midfield, although Wright made amends by swiftly coming off his line to collect the through ball before Ian Draycott could reach it. As we entered stoppage time, we had two further chances, firstly Paxman set-up Freeman but he rushed his shot and it went wide, and then Paxman was put through, but Wright again came out quickly to save with his legs and Yusuff, who was following up, saw his shot deflected away.
So, that was it, a rare 0-0 draw for Neil Cugley’s side, and whilst it was disappointing, we didn’t collect maximum points after ‘The Urchins’ had been reduced to ten men, they showed they are a much better side than their League position suggests and by the end of the season they’ll probably be challenging for a Play-off place.
I spoke to Neil after the game: “I thought we were poor in the first half, two or three of the players went missing and at this level, against opposition like Hornchurch, everyone has to take responsibility. ”Teams will come here, roll up their sleeves and have a go, and all the time we are unbeaten they will put in an extra effort to be the first to beat us, I thought they matched us very well, although credit to our defence as they kept their front two reasonably quiet. “We were much better in the second half, and that is a credit to the players, and of course the sending off helped, but we kept our shape, but just couldn’t get it in the net. “Sometimes, you have to give your opponents credit and that is the case this evening.”
He then added: “With the increased attendances we are getting the players are under more pressure to pick up results, especially at home, but it is a great pressure to be under and again although things weren’t going quite right tonight, the support was excellent right up to the final whistle.”
The game was sponsored by Channel Cars and after the game, Steve presented the ‘Man of the Match’ award to Tim Roberts, which was well-deserved as he made a couple of good saves when we were under pressure in the first half and his handling during the game was excellent also. As mentioned previously, Channel Cars also sponsor the cost of printing the programmes and have done for many seasons, so thanks to them for their continued support.
Folkestone Invicta: Tim Roberts, Josh Vincent (Capt), Jordan Wright (Kieron McCann, 33 mins), Matt Newman, Ian Draycott, Ryan Johnson, Scott Heard, Ronnie Dolan, David Smith (Ollie Freeman, 85 mins), Ade Yusuff & Alfie Paxman, (Unused substitutes: Micheal Everitt, Finn O’Mara & Connor Collins).
Hornchurch: Joe Wright, Mickey Parcell, Remi Sutton, Jordan Clark, Rickie Hayles, Joe Christou, Billy Bricknell (Daniel Ory, 61 mins), Liam Nash, Jili Buyabu, Charlie Ruff (Ollie Muldoon, 56 mins) & Lewwis Spence (Capt), (Unused substitutes: Charlie Stimson, Finlay Thackway & Austin Nkwonta).
Referee: Lisa Benn
Assistant Referees: Greig Walker & Scott Orchard
Attendance: Another excellent attendance of 741 today, thanks to everyone who came to the BuildKent Stadium to support their respective team, hopefully you enjoyed the game.
Next Fixture: On Saturday (6th November), we visit Cheshunt, who are currently 8th, for what will be another tough game in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division, kick-off 3:00pm.