Invicta Inflict Bank Holiday Misery On Blues

By Dylan Smith

The ‘Gate travelled to the Alcaline Stadium, where they faced Folkestone in the first Kent derby of the season. Margate would rue missed chances as they lost 2-0.

The game started with Folkestone looking the team on top. Ex-manager Andy Drury had the opening chance of the game, as he headed wide from a corner. This would continue with the Seasiders getting a few more set pieces in the opening ten minutes.

Margate would grow into the game, as Ben Greenhalgh and Phil Roberts got onto the ball. The first chance that the ‘Gate would get came through a keeper mistake as the ball slipped right out of his hands and fall to the attacking midfielder on the edge of the box. With the goal open, Antonis Vasiliou swung at it, but the ball went just wide of the post.

The next chance for the Blues would fall to Steve Cawley. He brought the ball down with a brilliant touch on the edge of the box, cut in on his right and curled one at the top right corner which smashed against the crossbar. With just under five minutes to go in the half, Vasiliou would have another golden chance to send the ‘Gate into the interval with a one goal lead as he was put through one on one with the keeper but unfortunately, he was denied by the shot stopper.

With everything to play for, the second half kicked off with both sides looking to open the scoring. Folkestone would mimic their start with a few corners, nothing notable would come from them in the opening five minutes though.

Painfully, it would be the home side who took the lead. A set-piece for the Seasiders would ultimately be the ‘Gate’s downfall. A header at the back post would deflect off a ‘Gate defenders head into the top corner.

Cawley would nearly level the game for the Blues. Harrison Hatfull found the striker running through on goal as he took the ball in his stride and was seemingly bound to score, but it wasn’t to be as he placed the ball into the keeper’s hands.

Things from there on would go bad to worse, as Invicta doubled their lead in the 68th minute. With the ‘Gate stranded high up the pitch; the home side launched a counterattack down the left-hand side. Heard would make his way into the box, play it to the back post where he would find Ira Jackson to smash it in the bottom corner.

The final whistle would bring an end the first Kent derby of the season, with Folkestone walking away with all three points and the bragging rights for the time being.

The ’Gate now look onto Saturday afternoon, where their FA cup campaign will start off against Hendon.

Line-up

Seaden, Hatfull, Johnson, Sterling, Hudson, Vasiliou (Rutherford 74’), Blackman, Cawley (Smith 89’), Roberts, Greenhalgh, Duncanson (Cham 85’)

Attendance

1,112

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