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There's only one James Dryden!

STRIKER James Dryden capped another remarkable campaign with four goals as Folkestone Invicta finished their season with a resounding 5-1 win over fallen giants Kingstonian amidst a good atmosphere at Kingsmeadow on Saturday afternoon.

Dryden, Supporters’ Player of the Year for the third time in four seasons, has broken both the club’s senior appearance and goalscoring records this season and signed off in style with his first four-goal haul for the club.

The popular 25-yard-striker thus finishes the season with a personal best 29 goals, though not quite enough to top Heybridge Swifts’ Carl Griffiths in the Ryman Premier League goalscoring charts.

And Dryden even scored the final goal from the penalty spot after being conspicuous by his absence during Invicta’s recent cup penalty shoot out defeats in the past couple of seasons.

It was an excellent finish to the season for Neil Cugley’s side and their upbeat travelling supporters who have all had to cope with the distress of losing team mate Paul Sykes in such tragic circumstances during April.

And former F. A. Trophy winners and Conference club Kingstonian fully contributed to an enjoyable day in front of their biggest home attendance of the season with a generous donation to the family of Paul Sykes and several end-of-term presentations both before and after the match.

The home side came out of the blocks very quickly as Martyn Lee hit the Invicta post with a speculative shot from outside the penalty area which had Tony Kessell back-peddling after just 37 seconds.

Mark Munday then cleared off the line after 80 seconds following the ensuing corner.

Stuart Reeks then hit a snapshot at Kessell after seven minutes in what was a very open start to the match.

Invicta were themselves close after 13 minutes when the visitors won their first corner of the game as home goalkeeper Alan Hughes made a great save to keep out a Stuart Myall header when Paul Lamb played the ball across from the left.

Bottom-of-the table Kingstonian were close again after 21 minutes when centre half Rob Paris headed against the crossbar.

The Ks had further chances when Lee’s deflected free kick flew into the side netting after 24 minutes and Tony Reid shot just wide when a ball over the defence put him through two minutes later.

Dryden headed inches wide for Invicta after 36 minutes when Micheal Everitt played the ball in from the right hand side.

And DRYDEN opened the scoring in the 45^th minute with a header from Simon Glover’s right wing cross after Munday had flicked a Myall corner from the left on but the danger appeared to have gone.

The first half drama did not end there as Invicta goalkeeper Kessell made a miraculous stoppage time save when Ian Dickens got to the bye line down the right and played the ball across.

But Invicta were to increase their lead in the 50^th minute when the ball broke to DRYDEN down the left hand side and he drove the ball into the net across goal.

And DRYDEN completed his hat-trick in the 57^th minute when he was there to convert at the far post when defender John Guest surged down the right hand side and played the ball across. It was only Dryden’s second hat-trick for Invicta after hitting three against Chatham Town in October 2003 and was the first Invicta hat-trick since John Ayling at Fleet Town in February 2004.

Paris headed wide for Kingstonian when substitute Mazin Ahmad played in a corner from the left after 63 minutes.

And LEE pulled a goal back for the home side after 73 minutes when his well-struck free kick from the right hand side flew into the far corner of the net.

Invicta struck again a minute later though when a long Dryden throw in from the right was drilled in by 18-year-old substitute Joe NEILSON, his first league goal for the club after one previous goal at home to Bashley in the Bryco Cup.

Neilson’s fellow teenage substitute James Everitt then went close to opening his account for the club when he headed a Myall corner from the left against the post after 80 minutes.

Invicta were then awarded a penalty when Glover went round goalkeeper Hughes but could not find the net only for referee David Belbin to point to the spot for shirt pulling by Jon Coke.

DRYDEN stepped up to successfully convert the 86^th minute spot kick for Invicta’s only penalty goal in the Ryman Premier League this season. The two Pauls – Sykes (at Windsor & Eton) and Lamb (at home to Slough) had previously been off target, though Martin Chandler did score from the spot in the F. A. Cup at Raynes Park Vale.

Dryden’s four goals were a personal record for the club, although not enough to equal the six Dave Arter had scored at home to Lordswood during the 1997-98 season.

Reeks forced a save from Kessell with the last kick of the game when he let fly from the edge of the area following a corner on the left.

Invicta have scored 14 goals in three games against struggling Kingstonian this season. They will return to Kingsmeadow next term to face AFC Wimbledon in what is sure to be another lively atmosphere.

Invicta’s third away league win of the season also means that they do not finish the season with the Premier League’s poorest away record, a dubious distinction now held by relegated local rivals Dover Athletic.

KINGSTONIAN: Hughes, Dickens, Lee, Paris, Asante (Ahmad 45), Coke, Reeks, Alimi, Ojukwa, Reid, Timothy.  Unused subs: Sanders, Taylor, Velandia, Musungu.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Munday, Lamb (Tanner 78), Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey (J. Everitt 56), M. Everitt (Neilson 45 mins), Myall, Dryden, Glover, Norman.  Unused subs: Coleman, Watson.

Attendance: 486.