histvfolk100404

Dryden's double gives Invicta share of the spoils

Histon 2-2 Folkestone Invicta
Dr Martens League Eastern Division
Saturday 10 April 2004
by Richard Murrill

Two goals from James Dryden gave Folkestone Invicta a share of the spoils in Easter Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash away to championship-chasing Histon.

Dryden twice put Neil Cugley’s side ahead but Invicta had to survive a second half onslaught from the home side and held on for a point when a linesman’s flag ruled out what Histon thought was an injury time winner from Ian Cambridge.

DRYDEN opened the scoring after 22 minutes when he tapped in Anthony Hogg’s low cross from the left when a well-worked move played the midfielder in.

But Histon were level just four minutes later when Adrian CAMBRIDGE drilled the ball home after James Rowe’s cross from the right was chested back out to him by Invicta defender John Guest.

DRYDEN restored Invicta’s lead on the half hour when he got a touch at the near post to Paul Lamb’s corner from the right.

Invicta’s second goal was poor defending on Histon’s part, but the visitors were to gift the Stutes their second equaliser after 48 minutes.

Captain Scott Lindsey played the ball back to Tony Kessell and as Lindsey awaited the ball back, the goalkeeper’s attempted pass was closed down by Ian CAMBRIDGE who had the simple task of walking the ball into an empty net.

Histon then put Invicta under considerable pressure before Invicta rallied towards the end, only for the linesman’s dramatic late intervention to curtail home celebrations.

Invicta had welcomed striker Steve Lawrence back into the side just over three years after his last appearance for the club when he had his leg broken at Merthyr Tydfil. Lawrence, now 29, is obviously short of match fitness but showed typical perseverance to win the corner which led to Invicta’s second goal.

And 19-year-old John Walker made his full debut at right back to become the 200^th different player to start a league match for Invicta since the club joined the Kent League at the start of the 1991-92 season. This was a big test for Walker and one which he passed with flying colours.

Histon captain Neil Andrews headed wide with the game’s first real chance after 12 minutes when Adrian Cambridge’s cross from the right was headed on in the middle.

Ian Cambridge showed his class after 53 minutes when he attempted to lob Kessell from 25 yards but the goalkeeper backtracked to touch the ball over for Histon’s first corner of the game.

Kessell touched the ball over the crossbar again after 55 minutes from Rowe when Jamie Barker played him in down the left.

Histon were close again after 57 minutes when Rowe headed over when Adrian Cambridge picked substitute Neil Coburn out on the right flank.

Rowe then scooped the bal over the crossbar on the hour when Adrian Cambridge’s long throw in came over from the left and eluded the under pressure Kessell.

Invicta had a chance after 82 minutes when Hogg was fouled right on the edge of the penalty area. Chandler touched the free kick but and Hogg’s shot was blocked inside the penalty area which led to a melee in the Histon goalmouth during which both Michael Everitt and Dryden tried to force the ball over the line.

Histon substitute Neil Kennedy was booked for dissent when Cambridge’s injury time ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside. Invicta’s Chandler, Lamb and John Guest had earlier been booked by referee Michael George.

HISTON: Barber, Farrington, Haniver (Coburn 45 mins), Hipperson, Vowden, A. Cambridge, Goddard, Andrews, Rowe (Kennedy 57 mins), I. Cambridge, Barker.  Unused subs: Munns, Holden, Mintus.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Walker, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Lawrence, Hogg.  Unused subs: Watkins, Winfield, Flanagan, Dyson, Egan.

Attendance: 307.