Folkestone Invicta (H) - 1st January 2024

By Josh Cole

A New Year’s Day classic as we host our local rivals Folkestone Invicta at Hartsdown Park to kick off 2024 on Monday afternoon.

You can get your tickets for this match by clicking here.

After discussions with the league, our 0-0 draw with Cray Wanderers on Boxing Day has officially been declared as a draw, and the table has been updated to show this.

Due to last Friday’s postponement, we will be without our captain Sam Blackman as he serves his final game suspended for picking up ten yellow cards.

OPPONENTS SEASON SO FAR

Invicta are struggling this season, occupying one of the four relegation spots in 19th on 19 points from 19 games. Folkestone started off the season with a bang, winning 4-0 away at Wingate & Finchley before losing their next two games to Chatham and Enfield Town. Then a five-game unbeaten run followed those two losses with three draws and two wins, which included the 2-0 win over us at the Alcaline Stadium. Then a complete switch of form as they won just one of their next five before beating Billericay 1-0 at home. After a 1-1 draw with Haringey, Folkestone parted with ways with Michael Everitt and Roland Edge. Former ‘Gate manager Andy Drury stepped into the dugout and became Invicta’s new gaffer. Since his appointment, Folkestone have lost their last five games which included a 5-0 hammering at home to Hastings and most recently a 1-3 home defeat to Hashtag United.

Margate sit 13th in the home form table with 15 points from 11 games whilst Folkestone are 19th in the away table with eight points from ten games.

You can view the full league table by clicking here. 

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

Loss vs Enfield Town, away (2-0) League

Loss vs Whitehawk, away (3-1) Velocity Trophy 3rd Round

Loss vs Carshalton Athletic, home (0-1) League

Draw vs Kingstonian, home (2-2) League

Draw vs Cray Wanderers, away (0-0) League

LAST FIVE: FOLKESTONE INVICTA

Loss vs Bognor Regis, home (0-1) League

Loss vs Hastings United, home (0-2) Velocity Trophy 4th Round

Loss vs Horsham, away (2-1) League

Loss vs Hastings United, home (0-5) League

Loss Vs Hashtag United, home (1-3) League

HEAD-TO-HEAD

There have been 16 meetings between the ‘Gate and Invicta, with Margate winning five, Folkestone winning seven and four ending in a draw. We have played our local rivals three times so far this season, the first time in the league where Folkestone won 2-0 at The Alcaline Stadium. We then drew them in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup where an entertaining 2-2 draw forced a replay at Folkestone and the ‘Gate won that 1-3. Highlights from that breathtaking 2-2 draw at Hartsdown Park can be watched by clicking here.

Bragging rights for this season are in the balance with the head-to-head for this season alone at one win each and one draw.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee for this clash on New Year’s Day is Kane Dempster and he will be assisted by Luke Morley and Joshua Williams.

Not able to make it to Hartsdown Park? Stay tuned with all the action by following all the action on our official X account @Margate_fc with live updates commencing from 2:15pm!

UP THE ‘GATE

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