Folkestone are just won win away from the first round proper of the FA Cup thanks to their hard fought win at home to Aylesbury this afternoon.

With the victory comes a boost to the club finances of £7,500 although they nearly ended up heading for a replay, but now they await the draw on Monday afternoon.

The game for the neutral was great but for the Managers it was not good for the nerves, as both sides showed their intent in an attacking sense but forgot about the defensive work. Both sides had chances but the experience of Folkestone saw them gain a victory that if had been level nobody could have argued against it.

The game started with Folkestone having the first half chances, in the 6^th minute Sam Hasler saw his 25 yard free kick curl just past the post, in the very next minute Kieron McCann on the left wing saw his curling cross evade everyone and fly just past the far post.

In the 10^th minute Aylesbury had their first chance when Jack Wood’s headed clearance fell to Lea Coulter who ran from the half way line, and then from 20 yards saw his shot go across the goal and out for a goal kick.

Five minutes later Coulter’s long throw into the area caused confusion, the ball eventually came back to Coulter whose cross to the back post found Ryan Kinnane but his header went wide.  In the 23^rd minute Callum Davies put McCann in the clear on the left, again his curling cross evaded everyone.

Folkestone took the lead in the 25^th minute when a long ball forward caught the Ducks defence out, Joe Taylor ran onto it and once in the area he dinked it over Jack Sillitoe.

Aylesbury did not let this affect them as they continued to have a go, in the 28^th minute a free kick to the far post found Kinnane but his header went just past the post.

In the 30^th minute a ball forward found Tyriq Hunte who went on into the area beating two defenders before his shot was deflected and  pushed away for a corner by Tim Roberts.

Two minutes later, Folkestone had a chance to increase their lead when a ball into the area found Taylor who laid it off to Ade Yusuff who from 10 yards shot over the bar, a minute later another chance came when McCann on the left wing got to the by-line, his cross to the back post found Jordan Wright 5 yards out but he blasted his shot over the bar when it seemed easier to hit the target.

The next minute saw Aylesbury with a chance when a ball into the area took a while to be cleared, then only to Coulter who from 20 yards saw his shot go just over the bar, in the very next minute Kinnane at the back post headed just wide.

Then in the 38^th minute Aylesbury got a deserved equaliser when a long ball down the left wing found Hunte who beat Wright, his low cross found Coulter who from 12 yards smashed into the net.

Shortly before half time Folkestone nearly restored their lead when Yusuff received the ball on edge of area, twisting & turning his shot from 12 yards was pushed around the post by Sillitoe.

The second half was only 7 minutes old when Jake Bewley on the left saw his low cross find Hunte who shot on the turn just wide, then two minutes later McCann crossed from the left into the six yard box where Yusuff challenged Sillitoe, a defender for it and the ball ricocheted away for a goal kick.

Folkestone regained the lead in the 56^th minute when McCann passed down the left wing for Yusuff who ran into the area, from an acute angle shot past Sillitoe at the near post.

Aylesbury were not giving up without a fight & in the 60^th minute Hunte on the left wing saw his cross take a wicked deflection with the ball sailing goal wards beating Roberts but just going wide.

In the 67^th minute Folkestone could and should have wrapped the game up when Roberts long ball was flicked on by Taylor for Yusuff who latched onto it but his shot from an acute angle this time hit the post, another chance came in the 74^th minute when Scott Heard put Yusuff clear on the left, he went into the area and shot but it went across goal.

In the 76^th minute Aylesbury nearly equalised when Coulter on the right received the ball in the area but saw his shot go wide from 12 yards.

The rest of the game saw both sides have half chances but when the final whistle went there was relief for Invicta as this had not been one of their best performances but that is football, they now look forward to the draw.

Folkestone Invicta:

1. Roberts 2. J.Vincent (90+1)   3. J.Wright    4. M.Everitt    5. C.Davies  6. M.Newman    7. S.Hasler
2. S.Heard 9. J.Taylor   10. A.Yuseff   11. K.Mccann

Sub Used: 14. E.Madden (90+1)

Subs Not Used:  12. E.Sahadow  15. T.Walmesly  17. S.Chalmers-Stevens

Bookings:  None

Aylesbury United:

1. Sillitoe 2. O.Stanbridge (64)   3. J.Bewley   4. J.Wood    5. A.Collard  6. R.Kinnane   7. T.Hunte (90+2)
2. G.Williams 9.  L.Coulter  10. O.Hogg   11. H.Jones

Subs Used:  14. J.Jellis (64)  16. R.Cameron ( 90+2)

Subs Not Used:  12. C.Corara-Soanes  15. N.Kalakoutis  17. A.Bubb

Bookings:   2. O.Stanbrisge (37)   3. J.Bewley (89)

Referee: Mr. S.Hughes

Assistants:  Mr. L.Martin-Crump   & Mr. A.Andrews