Boreham Wood 1-2 Folkestone Invicta

Goals from James Corbett and Paul Jones made it 10 points out of 12 during February for Folkestone Invicta as Neil Cugley’s side won 2-1 away to Boreham Wood in Hertfordshire on Saturday afternoon, writes Richard Murrill.

One-time Gillingham and Blackburn Rovers player Corbett was in outstanding form and gave Invicta an early lead, with striker Paul Jones doubling the advantage not long after half time before the home side pulled a late goal back to set up a tense finale.

Invicta gave a debut to new goalkeeper Richard Martin, a 19-year-old signed on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion the previous afternoon.

Martin impressed visiting supporters with his clean handling as the home side won 15 corners during the game, ten of which came during the first half.

The first of a succession of Boreham Wood corners came after four minutes when Paul Burrows shot wide with a low shot from just outside the penalty area, but referee L. Pinto Nunes bizarrely decided that it had touched an Invicta player.

But Invicta opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Corbett took a couple of touches to bring the ball under control when played in down the left hand side and finished in style with a high shot into the net.

Whilst not quite in the same league as Ellis Remy’s late wonder strike in the previous game against Hampton & Richmond Borough, this was another quality goal from the Folkestone side.

Corbett was involved again when Invicta won their first corner on the quarter of an hour mark when the midfielder found Ben Sly out wide on the right and Michael Cox headed the ball out when Remy was poised to strike in the middle.

Playing at right back in place of James Everitt, who was still recuperating after suffering migraines the previous weekend, 20-year-old Sly had filled in at left back when Invicta won their previous away match 2-1 at Worthing.

Boreham Wood were close to an equaliser after 20 minutes when Cox shot against the underside of the crossbar from the right hand side of the box.

Samuel Kola Okikiolu made a vital headed clearance after 24 minutes when Boreham Wood won a couple more corners.

Goalkeeper Martin got down to keep out a long distance strike from Danny Hart at his near post at the expense of another corner from which Luke Gregson blasted over when the ball fell to him.

Martin saved from Dwayne Plummer when Simon Thomas played the ball over to the far post after 26 minutes and Martin then saved at point blank range to deny Thomas when the subsequent corner came across.

At the other end, a good 25 yard strike from Micheal Everitt flew just wide of the post after 34 minutes and Everitt was denied a penalty seven minutes later when he went down inside the box after a good Invicta passing move also involving Jones and Corbett.

Boreham Wood’s Gregson and Thomas got in each other’s way in the middle of the goalmouth when the ball was played in from the right hand side within a minute of the second half.

But Invicta increased their lead in the 53^rd minute with a much-needed goal for Jones who turned the ball into the net after Sly had whipped the ball into the middle from the right hand side when Corbett played the ball out wide.

Jones had come into the starting line for the suspended Damian Abel and will have been pleased to notch his first Ryman Premier League goal since October.

Corbett was finding space at will and soon tested goalkeeper Noel Imber again when he broke through the middle.

Substitute Byron Harrison put in a dangerous low cross from the right hand side after 76 minutes and fellow substitute Chris Bangura threatened to get on the end of a cross from the left four minutes later.

But Invicta might have increased their lead in the 83^rd minute when Corbett shot wide after Sly had cut the ball back from the right hand side following a great ball from player-coach Mark Saunders on his 50^th appearance for the club.

Invicta appeared to be in total control and club captain Adam Flanagan made his return from injury in place of Okikiolu, the first time he has appeared as a substitute for the club.

But Boreham Wood were thrown a lifeline when a Burrows shot from outside the penalty area was deflected past Martin and into the net after 84 minutes.

Boreham Wood’s Ryan Moran was the game’s only booking for a cynical foul on Sly when the Invicta wing back broke down the right hand side after 35 minutes.

Boreham Wood: Imber, Cox (Samuel 72), Moran, Burrows, Smith, Gregson, Hart, Plummer (Harrison 72), Armstrong, Thomas, Hicks (Bangura 45). Subs: Williams, Reynolds.

Folkestone Invicta: Martin, Watson, Sly, Guiver, Friend, Saunders, M. Everitt, Jones, Remy, Corbett, Okikilou (Flanagan 82). Subs: Rainbow, Lamb, Chandler, Stonebridge.