Another man of the match performance from Johan Ter Horst gave his playoff chasing Folkestone Invicta team a convincing 4-0 win over mid table Horsham.
Neil Cugley selected a team with just one change from his team’s 2-1 win over Hearne Bay on Tuesday, with Nat Blanks standing in for James Everitt. This more possession based starting eleven meant that Cugley wasn’t going to take any risks to stop his teams good run of form which has seen them only lose one game since Christmas, in that time they have scored the majority of their goals this season.
It was the visitors who kicked off and within three minutes they were 1-0 down. After Ross Morley was caught in possession Johan Ter Horst went on a driven run, after some good build up play by the young striker, Chris Elliott and Paul Booth the Hull City bound striker found himself through on goal, after having his initial shot saved Ter Horst was able to score on the rebound for his 18th goal of the season.
Folkestone continued to apply early pressure and Ter Horst could have scored again just minutes after he put in the opener, but he was denied by Mark Zawadski after being set up by a good low cross from Dane Luchford.
Ter Horst continued to create chances and he should have doubled his team’s lead later in the half. After a long, diagonal pass from Chris Elliott, Paul Booth was given enough space to chest the ball down towards Ter Horst, after getting past the final defender, he was only able to put his half volley wide much to the disappointment of the home fans. Soon after he was given another chance, but his first time volley was expertly saved by Zawadski.
After coming out of the tunnel for the second half Folkestone continued where they had left off, after a long throw towards the penalty area was cleared Newman had an opportunity to shoot, but his effort went just left of the goal.
However, Invicta soon doubled their lead through Dane Luchford. A cross from Paul Booth found the winger at the far post and he was able to send a looping volley over the goalkeeper to keep the three points in Kent.
The hosts weren’t finished though they had the opportunity to score another from the penalty spot after Chappell went down whilst retreating after a corner after minimal contact from Ryan Woodford. Booth stepped up and slotted away the penalty for his 23rd goal of the season, keeping him the league’s fourth highest goal scorer.
The final goal for Folkestone came from a brief spell of possession as they allowed the ball to be played around their defence, but after a pass back to Tim Roberts was nearly intercepted, all the goalkeeper could do was kick it down the pitch, over every player as it bounced over his opposite number to give Roberts the first goal of his Invicta career!
After that moment of madness, there were no more chances for either team, meaning that Folkestone are now 13 points clear of 6th place. Their next game is next Saturday when they have a must win game away to second placed Leatherhead.
After the game Neil Cugley praised his promising young attacker and wished him luck as Ter Horst moves to Hull “He is a credit to the club, he looked lively again today, but he needs full time training which we are unable to give him”.
Cugley also found time to say that he will be talking to the coaches at the club in the coming week to look for a replacement for the high scoring striker who turns 19 next month.
“We have a large number of striker s already though, we are not a high paying club, but hopefully they will like the way we play”.
If they continue to play like they did today, there will be no problems in finding a new striker who wants to play for the club.
Folkestone Invicta: Roberts, Vincent, Elliott (Stevenson), Friend, Chappell, Newman (J Everitt), Luchford, Blanks, Ter Horst, Booth (Yianni), M Everitt
Sub not used: Austin
Horsham: Zawadski, Hamilton, B King, Harris (Kaffo), J King, Woodford, Napper, Morley (Fobi- Edusei), Pachcco (Nwachukwu), Cade, Robinson
Subs not used: Charman, Varley
Booked: Cade, B King, Robinson