Folkestone Invicta’s unbeaten home run ended in frustration as they lost by two goals to local rivals Faversham Town.

Invicta came into the game on top of the Ryman South Division One table, having won ten of their opening twelve games, scoring 25 goals in the process. However, after only winning two of their last six in all competitions their good run of form seemed to be coming to an end. They were hosting a Faversham side who, after finishing third last season, found themselves tenth in the table but, after beating Folkestone in the League Cup in the week they seemed to have the advantage coming into the game.

The lilywhites’ manager, Ray Turner only made one change from his side’s midweek win, this came in the centre of defence with John Scarborough being replaced by Josh McCallum whilst Folkestone’s Tim Dixon made two changes from the cup defeat, Frankie Chappell took the place of Dane Luchford whilst Jon Pilbeam was taken out for Ian Draycott.

As expected from a game between two local teams, the game began with a frantic, fast paced opening; within five minutes Folkestone’s Josh Vincent hit the post with a free header and soon after it was the turn of Faversham, but after Ryan Cooper saw Tim Roberts off his line his 45 yard effort flew inches over the crossbar.

The early bombardment from both teams went on but it was the visitors who began to establish control. After having the ball knocked down for him by Stuart King, George Monger’s effort from the edge of the area was well held by Roberts.

Folkestone did well to manage the pressure put on them and after a cross from the left was cleared they had a chance to counter, after carrying the ball through midfield Matt Newman gave the ball off to Ronnie Dolan on the right before the attacking midfielder found Ashely Miller on the opposite wing who cut inside, but he curled his effort over.

Although the slow pitched looked to reduce the pace of the game, neither side would allow it, and soon after a cross from Faversham’s Daniel Carrington narrowly avoided the leaping Charley Robertson as he looked for a spectacular diving header to open the scoring.

After their success in the week, Faversham came to the Fullicks Stadium with an obvious game plan- put on early pressure before sitting back and preventing any way through for their opponents, and it worked spectacularly, despite looking for a way through the middle, Folkestone were unable to find any way through a well-structured Lilywhites defence.

After this period of damage limitation the visitors pushed forward again, and after Carl Rook’s weak header was easily gathered by Will Godman, they were able to take the lead. All the work came from Stuart King who, after receiving the ball on the right wing was allowed to cut inside onto his left foot and hit a well-placed effort in at the near post, giving his side the lead with only four minutes left in the first half.

With time running out, Invicta had one final chance before the half time whistle was blown, but after Faversham were unable to clear Josh Vincent’s cross evaded Carl Rook, meaning Faversham took their one goal lead into the second half.

The slow start to the second half vastly contrasted to that of the first, but it was given life on 58 minutes when a quick passing move between the attacking duo of Ryan Cooper and Stuart King allowed the former to go down under pressure from Liam Friend in the penalty area.

Friend, the last defender, was shown a straight red card before Wayne Wilson stepped up to convert the spot kick, doubling his side’s lead.

A mix of being a man down and the frustration of being two goals down meant Folkestone were unable to get anything going. Nat Blanks was forced into a holding midfield role, but was unable to play any passes forward whilst, yet again, their attacking players were taken out of the game thanks to a firm, steady defensive display from Faversham.

In a half where there were more yellow cards than shots, the closest the hosts went was a sliced volley from Dane Luchford which flew over without troubling the goalkeeper.

Despite looking as though they would accept a two goal win, Faversham had one final opportunity of their own, this came after Dean Grant was able to slide a ball through towards Ryan Cooper who, after Frankie Chappell stepped forward, was given plenty of time to have a shot. Despite the ball thudding off the post, his side held firm, giving them their seventh league win of the season.

Invicta remain on top of the Ryman South table, but their lead has been cut to just two points whilst Faversham only go up one place due to other results from around the league.

 

Folkestone Invicta: Roberts, Vincent, Blanks, Friend, Chappell, Newman (Luchford), Starkey, Dolan (Wraight), Draycott, Rook (Pilbeam), Miller

Subs not used: Edge, Heydon

Sent off: Friend

Faversham Town: Godman, Cooper, Maxted, Brown (Botterill), Bourne, McCallum, Carrington, Monger, S King, Wilson (Grant), Robertson

Sub not used: L King