wealdstone290105

Stones enjoy a Jolly good time in Edgware

Folkestone Invicta’s poor away record this season continued on Saturday when they suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat away to Wealdstone at a muddy White Lion Ground.

Invicta have won just one away match so far this season in the Ryman Premier League when they romped to a 4-0 win at Leyton back in August.

And Neil Cugley’s side are now in danger of being sucked right back into the relegation dogfight after this latest setback in an increasingly close division.

Invicta’s week had been dominated by reaction to the previous Saturday’s bizarre events surrounding referee Gavin Hoare and the Folkestone side would have been looking to come back with at least a draw in their first match of the post-Hoare era.

Fallen giants Wealdstone now groundshare with Edgware Town and after being used twice in midweek the pitch was barely playable and the game was subject to a couple of pre-match pitch inspections.

Invicta had early chances as a James Everitt shot was charged down in the fourth minute and centre half Adam Flanagan got forward to hook the ball wide after a free kick was played across from the right to Mark Munday after five minutes.

A minute later James Dryden’s shot across goal from the left hand side got stuck in the mud as Invicta threatened again.

But Wealdstone themselves began to settle and striker Jermaine Beckford shot into the side netting after 16 minutes when a ball over the defence left him one-on-one with Steve Norman down the right hand side following an Invicta attack at the other end.

And the ‘home’ side opened the scoring in the 18^th minute  courtesy of a great strike from the left hand edge of the box by Tommy WILLIAMS.

Wealdstone had a clear chance to increase their lead after 23 minutes when Beckford fluffed his lines and goalkeeper Tony Kessell was able to avert the danger following a slip by Norman.

Beckford then cut in form the right hand side and shot over a minute later after appearing to foul Norman.

Lee O’Leary’s free kick from the right was headed just wide by big centre half Dave Ryan after 34 minutes, while a minute later Invicta striker Paul Sykes lobbed wide when Flanagan’s ball over the Wealdstone defence presented him with a chance.

Richard Jolly shot wide when Wealdstone looked certain to increase their lead after 37 minutes when Beckford played the ball in from the left after John Guest sliced his clearance.

At the other end, Dryden got power on his shot a minute later from the left hand side of the box but goalkeeper Andy Carter touched the ball over one-handed.

Wealdstone were desperately close again during first half stoppage time when O’Leary shot against the post and Jolly was unable to force the ball over the line when a second goal looked certain.

Sykes shot over after 53 minutes as Invicta sought a way back into the game during the second half in a move the striker started and which also involved the Everitt brothers Micheal and James.

A good shot on the turn from Jolly was comfortably dealt with by Kessell after 56 minutes, whilst a minute later Flanagan shot just wide on the turn after a Norman free kick.

Sykes’ header was headed off the line at the far post when the Invicta striker met a Micheal Everitt corner from the right hand side after 63 minutes.

But Invicta got caught out at the back in the 66th minute when Beckford unselfishly squared the ball back from the left hand side for striking partner JOLLY to make it 2-0.

Beckford lobbed wide when put through and given on-side after 71 minutes.

Dryden then missed a good chance for Invicta at the far post after 79 minutes as he shot wide when Guest met a Norman free kick.

Micheal Everitt shot wide when Paul Lamb’s shot was charged down in the Wealdstone box after 83 minutes.

Micheal Everitt then did well to put Sykes through in the 88^th minute but the striker blasted a bobbling ball wide when he got in behind the defence.

And JOLLY made it 3-0 when substitute Norbert Michnowicz put him through down the right hand side of the box and he found the net with a low shot across goal. That gave Wealdsotne full revenge for their defeat by the same scoreline at the Westbourne Stadium back in September.

Wealdstone’s Martin Carter was the game’s only booking for time-wasting at a throw in as early as the 52^nd minute.

WEALDSTONE: A. Carter, Shaw, Cahill, O’Leary, Ryan, M. Carter, Williams, McKeown (Morton 51 mins), Beckford (Alexander 90 mins), Jolly, Burrell (Michnowicz 77 mins).  Unused subs: Fisher, Carvell. 

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, J. Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, M. Everitt, Munday (Neilson 66 mins), Dryden, Sykes, Norman. Unused subs: Glover, Walker, Coleman, Watson.

Attendance: 280.