folkve&B120404

Erith & Belvedere condemned to a bottom two finish after drab goalless draw

Folkestone skipper Lindsey set to miss cup final

Folkestone Invicta 0-0 Erith & Belvedere
Dr Martens League Eastern Division
Easter Monday, 12 April 2004
by Richard Murrill 

Folkestone Invicta captain Scott Lindsey will miss the John Ullman Kent Senior Cup Final  against Margate on April 28^th after being sent off in Easter Monday’s drab goalless draw at home to Erith and Belvedere.

Lindsey was dismissed after 78 minutes when he received a straight red card for catching Ray Aboyage with a flaying arm as the players jumped for an aerial ball close to the half way line.

The incident livened up an otherwise typical end-of-season affair as a hard pitch and tired players combined to contribute to the stalemate. Invicta have now drawn 14 league games this season – more than any other side in the Eastern Division – while the hard-earned point was not enough to save Erith who are now condemned to a bottom two finish this season.

And while Invicta will have been pleased to draw 2-2 away to Histon on Easter Saturday, this was to be an afternoon of frustration.

Invicta welcomed Adam Flanagan and Drew Watkins back into their starting line up in place of John Walker and Martin Chandler, while Steve Lawrence retained his place as he started a home game for the first time since March 2001.

Erith have recently appointed a new manager in Kevin Hales and brought in several new players and it was the visitors who had the better chances during the first half.

Striker Darren Adams forced the first real save of the game from Tony Kessell when he shot on the turn after 20 minutes.

And Dean Standen missed a virtual open goal after 26 minutes when another defensive mix up involving Lindsey allowed the on-loan from Welling United player to get in behind goalkeeper Kessell.

At the other end, Anthony Hogg shot over when the ball fell to him inside the box after 36 minutes.

But Erith missed another gilt-edged chance after 41 minutes when Adams lobbed wide when put through down the middle after Invicta had given the ball away in midfield.

Centre half Adam Flanagan headed a Watkins corner from the left over after 48 minutes, but Kessell was called into action again when Adams shot from the edge of the box after 57 minutes.

Hogg shot at goalkeeper Robbie Elliott when he received the ball from substitute Chandler on the edge of the penalty area after 64 minutes.

And Elliott denied James Dryden after 68 minutes when the goalkeeper saved Invicta’s best chance of the afternoon with his feet when Hogg flicked on a Kessell clearance to put the striker through down the middle.

Lindsey’s dismissal raised the passions of the crowd and Erith striker Akpo Sodje was booked after 83 minutes for a late challenge on Micheal Everitt.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Watkins (Chandler 59 mins), Munday, Dryden, Lawrence (Blackman 67 mins), Hogg.  Unused subs: Walker, Dyson, Egan.

ERITH and BELVEDERE: Elliott, Tozer, Taylor, Verlesi, S. Sodje (Tarrant 77 mins), Briggs, Aboyage, Standen (Rickets 39 mins), Adams, A. Sodje. Lorraine.  Unused sub: Seitsonen.

Attendance: 343.