kingstonian201104

Happy Birthday, boss!

Folkestone Invicta enjoyed a second successive home Saturday win as goals from James Dryden, Paul Sykes and Mark Munday gave Neil Cugley’s side a comfortable 3-0 win over once mighty Kingstonian on the manager’s 48^th birthday at the Westbourne Stadium.

Invicta took a stranglehold on the game with two goals just before half time but this time there was to be none of the scares of the previous weekend when a 4-0 lead over Cheshunt was pegged back to 4-3.

Kingstonian had previously come to Cheriton Road as a Conference club five years ago at the start of their successful defence of the F. A. Trophy.

But this they arrived as the bottom club in the Ryman Premier League and finished the game with ten men as Giles Coke was dismissed for two bookable offences.

Invicta were boosted by the inclusion of new signing Steve Norman from Chelmsford City in defence as they were without suspended captain Scott Lindsey and the still injured Paul Lamb and Martin Chandler.

Like right back Kevin Watson, Norman had played against Invicta for Chelmsford back in August and he has also previously played for Dover Athletic, Gillingham and St Leonards.

Top goalscorer DRYDEN opened the scoring in the 38^th minute with his 12th goal of the season when he picked up the ball close to the halfway line after Coke had misjudged the bounce and ran on before hitting a well-struck lob over goalkeeper Mark Zawadski.

Sykes recent arrival came just at the right time for Invicta after they had gone 11 matches without a win and the striker again led the line well to take some of the burden off Dryden. And SYKES made it 2-0 in the 44^th minute when he hit the ball back across goal from an angle following a Watson corner.

Kingstonian tried to find a way back, but Norman headed off the line to deny Coke and Steve Sanders was also close to pulling a goal back.

But the K’s were reduced to ten men when Coke picked up a second yellow card after an initial bad foul by Dave Timothy on Andrew Burke. The visitors’ Ahmed Rifat and Phil Ruggles were also booked by referee Chris Salt from Pulborough.

And stand-in Invicta captain MUNDAY was to complete the scoring for the second successive Saturday when he headed in a Watson cross at the far post in the 79^th minute.

Invicta were able to give further experience to youngsters Luke Coleman, Joe Neilson and James Everitt in the closing minutes.

Neilson was making his first appearance for the first team and used his great pace to set up a late chance for fellow teenager Everitt who blasted over the crossbar.

The attendance of 372 was the highest in the Ryman Premier League on Saturday and Invicta are now nearer the top of the division than the bottom in terms of points. What a difference a fortnight makes!

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, Sykes (J. Everitt 85), Flanagan, Guest, Norman, M. Everitt, Munday, Dryden (Coleman 87), Burke (Neilson 84), Glover.  Unused sub: Walker.

KINGSTONIAN: Zawadski, Sanders, Alimi, Taylor (Tchancou 45), Rifat, G. Coke, Collyer, Ahmad (Williams 76), Ruggles, Rose (J. Coke 45), Timothy.  Unused subs: Muscat, Hughes.

Attendance: 372.