Bromley 1-2 Folkestone Invicta - Invicta humble big-spenders

Monday 02nd April 2007

Second half goals from Mark Saunders and Damian Abel gave Folkestone Invicta an impressive 2-1 win away to promotion-chasing Bromley at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon, writes Richard Murrill.

Neil Cugley’s side again proved to be one of the most unpredictable teams in the Ryman Premier League, capable of beating championship-chasing Chelmsford City and now Bromley in recent weeks whilst under-performing against the bottom two clubs Walton & Hersham and Slough Town.

The Invicta manager opted for changes as Paul Lamb, Mark Saunders and Paul Jones returned to the starting line up in place of Ben Sly, James Everitt and one-time Bromley player Ellis Remy.

Invicta had conceded two first half penalties in their disappointing defeat away to Walton & Hersham the previous Saturday and it again looked as though the fates were against the Folkestone side when a Sam Wood cross struck central defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu on the arm as early as the fifth minute.

The referee pointed to the spot and Gareth Williams gave the home side an early lead from the spot.

Williams had already shot just wide and Invicta captain Adam Flanagan headed against his own crossbar following a corner as the home side found themselves under early pressure from a Bromley side managed by former Crystal Palace supreme Mark Goldberg.

But Invicta had penalty appeals of their own waved way in the 12^th minute when James Corbett went down inside the box.

Wood’s low cross was deflected just wide after 17 minutes and Invicta survived a scare just before half time when Barry Moore shot wide after goalscorer Williams had put the ball in from the right hand side.

But Invicta turned the game around during the opening ten minutes of the second half.

Player-coach Saunders headed in an equaliser in off the crossbar from a 47th minute corner.

And striker Abel put Invicta ahead in the 54^th minute when he slid the ball home after goalkeeper Andy Walker had saved his first attempt when striking partner Jones put him through.

The Folkestone side had 19-year-old goalkeeper Richard Martin to thank for another great display, particularly during the frantic closing stages as he denied both Bromley’s leading marksman Nic McDonnell and Williams. On-loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, Martin surely set for big things in the game.

In front of him the Invicta defence also held on courageously, with Okikiolu in typically commanding form.

Bromley: Walker, Corneille (Watts 61), Wood, O’Sullivan, Duku, Bowry, Adeniyi (Kadi 80), Moore (Sharpling 61), Williams, McDonnell, Osborn. Subs: Boot, Kamara.

Folkestone Invicta: Martin, Watson, Lamb, Flanagan, Friend, Okikiolu, M. Everitt, Saunders (Sly), Jones, Corbett (Remy), Abel (J. Everitt). Subs: Guiver, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 602.