Folkestone Invicta bowed out of this season’s Emirates F.A. Cup, losing 3-2 in the Fourth Qualifying Round replay against Vanarama National League Eastleigh at the BuildKent Stadium on Tuesday, but that bland statement doesn’t begin to describe what was one of the best games seen at the ground for many years.
Every one of the Invicta players was a hero as we went toe-to-toe with a very good Eastleigh side despite being 2-0 down and suffering a controversial sending-off. Having suffered the heartbreak of our opponent’s stoppage time equaliser on Saturday, once we went two down, it would have been easy for the players to think that was it, but our squad is made of sterner stuff and backed by an excellent attendance, they give their all but couldn’t quite get over the line.
Unsurprisingly, after Saturday, Invicta played an unchanged starting line-up, although Ian Draycott returned to the squad on the bench. Eastleigh, meanwhile, appeared to have tightened things up having made three changes to the starting line-up, with two of their dangerous flair players from Saturday, Sam Smart and Ryan Hill, left on the bench.
Invicta made an early chance when Ryan Johnson played a good ball through to Ade Yusuff who did well to turn his defender before returning the ball to Johnson and his cross was headed away for a corner from which Jordan Wright shot over from twenty-five yards. Matt Newman then played the ball through to David Smith but the Eastleigh goalkeeper, Joe McDonnell, was swiftly off his line to collect at the second attempt.
Eastleigh made a slower start, but on the quarter of an hour, Tom Whelan’s free kick was cleared only for, skipper for the evening, Tyrone Barnett, showed good skill to get the ball down and get his cross in, but Johnson was there to head clear for a throw-in and from the resultant set-piece there was an offside and the danger was averted.
Three minutes later, as the game got into full flow, Ronnie Dolan received the game’s first booking for a clumsy tackle on Jake Hesketh in midfield and a minute later he lost possession which allowed Barnett to burst through the Invicta defence, but this time it was Invicta goalkeeper, Alexis Andre, who was sharp off his line as he got down well to save diving to his right.
Invicta then had the next chance when Yusuff, who caused the Eastleigh defence problems all evening, was again involved as he beat the defender before sending in a dangerous cross which Scott Heard headed wide. However, two minutes later our opponents took the lead as following a good combination between Josh Hare, Whelan and Hesketh, Ben House played the ball to Vincent Harper, and his cross was volleyed in by Whelan, who made the finish look easier than it was, giving Andre no chance from around the penalty spot.
To add to the drama, fourth official Peter Conn replaced Referee Robert Whitton, due to injury. However, Invicta continued to push forward and after Dolan and Yusuff had combined to supply Alfie Paxman, his cross was sent skidding dangerously across goal but unfortunately behind the on-rushing forwards. We then had an anxious moment as Josh Vincent headed the ball off for a corner in trying to reach Andre, and as it was whipped in, the ball glanced off the forehead of Callum Davies and for a few seconds it looked like it was heading towards the goal, but fortunately it cleared the far post and went out for another corner, which was dealt with.
Newman then played in Smith, who like his striking partner, Yusuff, was a constant thorn in the side of the Eastleigh defence, and he won a corner, from which the ball was sliced dangerously towards his own goal by a ‘Spitfire’ defender, but as both Smith and Yusuff challenged McDonnell, the Referee, as seems the norm nowadays, gave a foul against the forwards. Right on half-time, Invicta almost got the equaliser, and it actually came from us losing possession as a Paxman pass was intercepted, but Newman nodded the ball in clear and we broke away with Dolan and Heard combining well to set-up Yusuff, with his dangerous low cross being within a whisker of being turned in at the far post by Smith.
Our opponents also had a late chance, but following good interplay between Whelan and Barnett, the ball was played to House, but he delayed his shot, and the danger was averted. There was then just time for Hare to be booked for a foul on Paxman and that was the end of what had been an enthralling first half, even if it didn’t quite have the intensity of the first game, little did we know what was going to happen after the break!
Just three minutes into the second half, Vincent picked up a yellow card for a foul on Barnett, which would have important consequences five minutes later, with the defender and Hesketh getting caught up as they ran though. The Referee seemed to be unconcerned, but with the Assistant Referee flagging like a steward at a Formula One race, the Referee spoke to him and gave Vincent a second yellow which left Invicta down to ten men for more than half an hour.
In between those two events, Paxman had seen a shot curl just wide of the far post from the edge of the area, although Andre then made a good save from House, tipping his shot from around twenty-five yards around the post for a corner, whilst at the other end Paxman and Smith set-up a chance for Yusuff who’s shot from the edge of the area was collected by McDonnell.
In the 58th minute, we suffered a further setback when Eastleigh added a second. Yusuff may have been fouled as Christian Maghoma took the ball off him, but the big centre half played the ball wide and when it was returned, Hesketh collected it on the edge of the area, cut inside and shot low into the left-hand corner of the goal giving Andre no chance. On the hour, our opponents then made a like-for-like substitution with striker Danny Whitehall replacing Barnett.
So, with around half hour to go, being 2-0 down, reduced to ten men and against opposition two Divisions above, things were not looking good, but this Invicta squad is made of strong stuff nowadays, although immediately after the goal there was a couple of anxious moments as firstly , Andre was swiftly off his line to avert danger after a good through ball had split the Invicta defence and then he was forced to spectacularly punch away a dangerous cross from Cavaghn Miley.
Unbelievably, in the sixty-fourth minute, we pulled a goal back, Smith collected Paxman’s long throw down the left had side, after cutting in, he sent in a dangerous cross and although Wright couldn’t quite connect under pressure from a defender, the ball bounced loose and Yusuff blasted the ball home from within the six-yard area for a deserved personal and team goal. The game then started to get a little niggly and Miley was the next in the Referee’s notebook for a foul on Smith as Invicta increased the pressure, which caused Eastleigh to make a second substitution after seventy-five minutes when Harry Pritchard replaced Hesketh.
Three minutes later, the crowd erupted as Invicta incredibly levelled matters through Heard. Dolan played the ball square to Newman and the defender produced a sublime chip through to Heard who ran onto the ball and cleverly volleyed it past McDonnell (that’s the October Goal of the Month wrapped up!!) from around ten yards.
To their credit, despite the setbacks, Eastleigh continued to push forward, and Andre made an excellent point-blank save as he rushed out to block a shot from House who had been put through. Maghoma was then booked for a poor challenge and at the same time Ian Draycott replaced Smith, who had run himself into the ground with an excellent performance. Our opponents then threw caution to the wind as they took off defender Tom Broadbent and replaced him with the more attacking Ryan Hill with five minutes to go. Chances however remained at a premium although Whelan became the fourth Eastleigh name in the Referee’s notebook. Hill, House and Pritchard all shot wide when well placed, whilst at the other end Paxman couldn’t direct his header towards goal following a cross from Yusuff, although he deserved great credit for getting on the end of it anyway as he had originally played the ball to Yusuff and then run fifty yards to meet it in time added on at the end of the game, extraordinary stamina!
Extra time continued in the same vein, with Eastleigh creating the majority of the chances, which with Invicta having played with ten men for approaching an hour was expected, although they were kept at a distance, although Andre made an excellent save from Whelan as he dived across goal and tipped the ball away. Yusuff also saw his shot saved by McDonnell, but by now the Invicta striker was exhausted and he didn’t catch it as well as he would have wanted to.
Then with six minutes to go, ‘The Spitfires’ broke Invicta hearts, a hopeful cross from the right from Hare wasn’t dealt with in the middle and Ben House turned the ball back across Andre and into the far corner. There was time for some late substitutions as on one hundred and thirteen minutes Ollie Freeman replaced Wright, whilst five minutes later Danny Hollands replaced Miley, to become Eastleigh’s fourth substitute which is allowed in the Emirates F.A. Cup if the game goes to extra time, and then Tyler Sterling replaced Johnson a minute later.
There was just time for Davies to pick up Invicta’s second booking for a blatant bodycheck and that was it, our F.A. Cup run was over, but every one of the Invicta players deserved nothing but credit for their efforts. Not only on the evening, but in the first game plus the others in the run as we had got through three rounds having played two away from home and then at the BuildKent Stadium against a team from a higher Division before bowing out to a team two Divisions above, a great effort.
Unfortunately, due to other commitments (which is why this report is also later than usual), I was unable to speak to Neil after the game, but I’ll catch up with him for Saturday’s preview.
The game was sponsored by Channel Cars and after the game, Dave Newgrosh presented the ‘Man of the Match’ award to Alfie Paxman. This must have been one of the hardest decisions to have made as there were a number of outstanding performances although few would argue with the award as Alfie turned in an ‘all-action’ display. Channel Cars also sponsor the cost of printing the programmes and have done for many seasons, so thanks to them for their continued support.
Finally, good luck to Eastleigh in their First Round tie at Boreham Wood, they were fantastic hosts last Saturday and welcome visitors tonight and we wish them well for the rest of the season.
Folkestone Invicta: Alexis Andre, Josh Vincent, Jordan Wright (Ollie Freeman, 113 mins), Matt Newman, Callum Davies (Capt), Ryan Johnson (Tyler Sterling, 119 mins), Scott Heard, Ronnie Dolan, David Smith (Ian Draycott, 82 mins), Ade Yusuff & Alfie Paxman.
Unused substitutes: Finn O’Mara, Kieron McCann, Micheal Everitt & Connor Collins.
Goalscorers: Ade Yusuff (63 mins) & Scott Heard (78 mins).
Eastleigh: Joe McDonnell, Josh Hare, Cavaghn Miley (Danny Hollands, 118 mins), Tom Broadbent (Ryan Hill, 85 mins), Andrew Boyce, Tyrone Barnett (Capt) (Danny Whitehall, 61 mins), Jake Hesketh (Harry Pritchard, 75 mins), Ben House, Tom Whelan, Christian Maghoma & Vincent Harper.
Unused substitutes: Michael Kelly, Sam Smart & Ross Flitney.
Goalscorers: Tom Whelan (24 mins), Jake Hesketh (58 mins) & Ben House (114 mins).
Referee: Robert Whitton (Peter Conn, 31 mins)
Assistant Referees: Gary Jerden & Jack Fagg
Fourth Official: Peter Conn.
Attendance: 1,237 many thanks to everyone who came to the BuildKent Stadium to support their respective team, I’m sure you enjoyed the game.
Next Fixture: We are at home again on Saturday (23rd October), when we welcome 3rd placed Kingstonian to the BuildKent Stadium for what will be another tough game, this time in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division game, kick-off 3:00pm.