Metropolitan Police 2-1 Folkestone Invicta

METROPOLITAN POLICE 2-1 FOLKESTONE INVICTA
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 7^th February 2009
Richard Murrill reports from Imber Court

FOR THE second successive Saturday, Folkestone Invicta ended up beingbeaten 2-1, despite dominating the Police at Imber Court.

Neil Cugley’s side put in an impressive performance away to second-placed Metropolitan Police, but somehow found themselves 2-0 down at half time as midfielder Steve Sargent scored twice for the home side from outside the penalty area at Imber Court.

Captain James Dryden eventually pulled a late goal back with a rebound after initially having his penalty saved, but as against Godalming the previous weekend, Invicta had nothing to show for their considerable efforts.

The final corner count of 10-2 in the visitors’ favour on Saturday was a fair indication of the balance of play.

The game had beaten the weather after a morning pitch inspection. Team news saw Invicta bring in Josh Vincent at right back for the suspended Kieran Byrne, with James Everitt moving forward into the attack. And there was a new face in Liam Wybraniec, in place of the also suspended Frankie Chappell.

Wybraniec is a youngster at Gillingham who has been playing in their reserve side and gave the Folkestone side the unique situation of having three Liams at centre half as he partnered 20-year-olds Dickson and Friend.

For Met Police, former Invicta captain Lee Gledhill was out with a hamstring injury, but fellow ex Invicta defender Nick Humphrey did play at the heart of the home side’s backline.

Jamie Byatt fired wide for Met Police from the left hand side in the ninth minute when Craig Carley squared the ball across to him.

But Invicta started well and James Everitt’s 14^th minute ball in from the right threatened to reach Dryden in the middle but was headed clear.

And the younger Everitt brother fired over with a good chance six minutes later when the ball fell to him in a central position after goalkeeper Jack Delo’s free kick had reached Dryden inside the penalty area.

Vincent then headed over at the far post in the 26^th minute after an inviting ball in from Jimmy Jackson following a good move involving Micheal Everitt and Josh Burchell.

But Invicta fell behind in the 27^th minute when Sargent let fly with a 25-yard strike which flew into the far corner of the net.

Invicta threatened again when Darren Smith headed just wide in the 43^rd minute when Dryden headed the ball back across goal to him after James Everitt sent the ball in from the right following more good play from Jackson.

But it was 2-0 in the 45h minute when Sargent struck again direct from a free kick right on the left hand side of the Invicta penalty area which went across goal and into the far corner of the net.

And the visitors might have known it was not going to be their day when nothing was awarded during first half stoppage time when home goalkeeper Mo Maan clattered into James Eveirtt for what appeared to be a clear foul.

There was still time before the interval for Burchell to find Smith down the left and the subsequent ball in was just too high for James Everitt in the middle.

Invicta continued to dictate the play at the start of the second half as a Micheal Everitt shot was deflected for a corner and Everitt’s shot was then cleared from close to the line when Jackson’s subsequent set piece came back out to him.

The Folkestone side was close again in the 52^nd minute with a headed James Everitt flick from a Smith corner on the left.

A 64^th minute Dryden shot was deflected for a corner and Vincent couldn’t quite force the ball in from Jackson’s set piece as the majority of the game was still played inside the home side’s half.

And yet Met Police should have increased their lead two minutes later when striker Scott Forrester blasted over with a clear chance when James Greenaway played the ball out wide on the right to Craig Brown and the substitute sent a low ball into the Invicta goalmouth.

At the other end, Smith shot just over from outside the penalty area hen Dickson played the ball in from the left to James Everitt.

Sargent chipped over for Met Police when a hopeful ball out of defence found Forrester on the break after another Invicta attack.

Met Police captain Dave Newman put the ball just wide of his own post when he got in to deny James Everitt as Burchell played the ball in to Dryden.

Invicta were awarded a penalty in the 78^th minute when James Everitt was fouled after a Jackson free kick. Substitute Joe Neilson put the ball into the net, but the referee had already blown for a penalty.

Maan made a good save to keep out Dryden’s subsequent spot kick, but the striker converted the rebound to score for a fourth successive game. The goal rightly stood despite some home confusion as an assistant referee had flagged for encroachment against Maan at the penalty.

The home side had late chances as Invicta chased an equaliser as substitute Jon Henry-Haden twisted his way through in the 85^th minute but his toe-poke at Delo lacked power.

Byatt blasted over from the left hand side of the penalty area after a Gary Drewett ball and Friend cleared when Byatt played the ball in from the left a minute later.

Dryden couldn’t quite save the day for Invicta during stoppage time when a Delo free kick fell to him and led to a scramble in the home goalmouth.

Metropolitan Police: Maan, Corbett (Brown 45 mins), Cobden (Hare 45 mins), Newman, Humphrey, Greenaway, Drewett, Sargent, Forrster (Henry-Haden 76 mims), Carley, Byatt.
Subs: Francis, Packham.

Goals: Sargent 27, 45

Booked: Forrester 36

Folkestone Invicta: Delo, J. Everitt, Burchell (Swallow 78 mins), Friend, Wybraniec, Dickson, M. Everitt, Vincent (Neilson 70 mins), Dryden, Smith, Jackson.
Sub: Egan.

Goal: Dryden 78

Attendance: 212