heybridge301004

Folkestone's poor run continues

Folkestone Invicta’s miserable run continued when they went down to two second half goals away to Heybridge Swifts at Scraley Road in Essex on Saturday afternoon.

Invicta have now slipped alarmingly to just one place outside the Ryman Premier League relegation zone after taking just three points out of their last possible 24 and going nine matches without a win in all competitions.

Missing Simon Glover (compassionate grounds) and Martin Chandler (knee injury), Invicta manager Neil Cugley gave debuts to right back Kevin Watson and right midfielder Victor Fuyanuwo.

Watson has come to the club from Welling United, having played for Chelmsford City against Invicta in the second game of the season back in August. A former Charlton Athletic schoolboy, youth and reserve team defender, Watson enjoyed three highly successful seasons with Team Bath, scoring 20 goals when they won the Screwfix Direct Western League Premier Division in 2002/03. He has been capped for both the England Students and British Universities teams.

Fuyanuwo has previously been on the books of both Tottenham and Sheffield United and also had a spell in Finland. He played in the Ryman League for Waltham Forest last season but is lacking in match fitness after three months out of the game.

This game was to follow a familiar pattern for Invicta as they looked more than capable of getting a result during the early exchanges but again lacked a cutting edge to put any kind of distance between themselves and their hosts.

Recent signing Andrew Burke provided a useful outlet for Inivcta on the left hand side of midfield and his run set up the visitors’ best chance of the game during the second half which was squandered by striker James Dryden who shot over the bar when it seemed easier to score with the sides still level at 0-0.

Heybridge took full advantage of that let off as top goalscorer Carl GRIFFITHS scored the all-important first goal for the home side in the 67^th minute when he headed in powerfully following a telling run and quality right wing cross from Dwayne Edwards.

Edwards was then himself close but was denied by a great save from goalkeeper Tony Kessell.

But James ROBINSON made it 2-0 after 76 minutes when he stabbed the ball past Kessell after a move involving Edwards had seen his shot cleared off the line in a move also involving Scott Forbes.

Invicta had enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges as debutant Watson’s free kick was saved by home goalkeeper Darren Placid, new signing Forbes cleared off the line for Heybridge from a glancing Dryden header following a Paul Lamb corner and Micheal Everitt poked a shot against the post.

For Heybridge, Edwards was close during the first half when presented with a chance by Robinson.

Dryden had a late chance to pull a goal back for Invicta but fired wide to make it another frustrating afternoon for the Folkestone side who desperately need a win from somewhere.

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS: Placid, Shinn, Barber, Kimble, Blackwell, S. Forbes, Edwards, Pollard, Griffiths, Robinson (Marks), B. Forbes (E. Artun).

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Fuyanuwo (Coleman 60 mins), Munday, Dryden, Everitt, Burke (Walker 75 mins).  Unused sub: Dyson.

Attendance: 195.