dartford180105

Folkestone home and Dryden

A goal in the last minute of extra time from leading marksman James Dryden took ten-men Folkestone Invicta into the semi finals of the Kent Senior Cup after a hard-earned win over Dartford at a blustery Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night.

With the quarter final tie seemingly heading for penalties, DRYDEN found the net with a speculative low right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area which crept past former Invicta goalkeeper Kevin Hudson to settle the issue.

It was a milestone night for Dryden as he equalled Paul Chambers’ record of 223 starting appearances for Invicta since the club gained senior status.

Invicta had played the extra half hour with ten men after Dryden’s striking partner Paul Sykes talked himself into an early bath in the last minute of normal time after referee Gavin Hoare had booked him for a challenge close to the half way line. It was thus an unhappy return to his former club for Sykes.

But Neil Cugley’s side opened the scoring after 92 minutes when centre half John GUEST headed in a free kick from the left hand side.

Dartford were level within two minutes of the second period of extra time when Dominic ELMES was played through the middle and calmly slotted the ball into the net to level for Tommy Sampson’s side.

It was Dartford who then pressed for a winner as Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell was called into action a minute later to deny substitute Steve O’Keefe.

And there was a real scare for Invicta when home defender Darren Penfold let fly and struck the crossbar after 112 minutes.

Kessell then kept the ball out again against his former club during a goalmouth melee a minute later.

But there was to be no way back for Southern League Division One Eats side Dartford after Dryden’s last ditch winner past Hudson.

Invicta had enjoyed the early territorial advantage, but Kessell had to get down to deal with a dangerous right wing cross from one-time Invicta player Steve Hafner after nine minutes.

Micheal Everitt hit a free kick at Hudson when Sykes was fouled in a central position right on the edge of the penalty area after 14 minutes and Simon Glover’s close range header was touched over the crossbar by Hudson after 18 minutes when Paul Lamb got to the byline down the left hand side following a pinpoint ball from captain Scott Lindsey.

Micheal Everitt then shot over on the half hour mark when played in from Lamb’s crossfield ball.

At the other end, Teddy Ansell’s shot was blocked by Steve Norman after 37 minutes and Kessell had to get down to touch the ball round the post for a corner when Norman was caught in possession by Darren Thompson.

Both Guest and Dryden had chances for Invicta when commanding centre half Adam Flanagan nodded the ball on after 54 minutes.

But Dartford had penalty appeals for handball turned down after 61 minutes when Hafner’s ball in from the right struck Flanagan.

Invicta were not having things all their own way as Craig Maguire shot over from the edge of the penalty area after 69 minutes.

Kessell then plucked the ball out of the air when Thompson played the ball in from the left after 73 minutes.

Guest’s opener gave Invicta’s ten-men a lead to defend but Thompson was soon not too far away with a dipping shot from the edge of the box as Dartford refused to lie down.

John Ullmann Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Finals:
Darford 1-2 Folkestone Invicta (aet)

Tuesday 25 January
Dover Athletic v Ashford Town

Tuesday 1 February
Tonbridge Angels v Gravesend & Northfleet

TBA
Margate v Cray Wanderers

DARTFORD: Hudson, Olsen, Maguire, Penfold, Avery, Hafner, Elmes, Ansell (Martin 117), Carter (Pearsall 82), McClements (O’Keefe 70), Thompson.  Unused subs: Potter, Simpson.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, J. Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, M. Everitt (Walker 85), Glover (Munday 45), Dryden, Sykes, Norman. Unused subs: Coleman, Morrin.

Attendance: 129.