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First half goals from Justin Skinner (penalty) and Roy Essandoh gave Conference side Gravesend & Northfleet in Saturday’s pre-season friendly at a wet Westbourne Stadium.

Kick off was delayed for 15 minutes to allow the pitch time to drain after the unseasonal thunder and lightning had left it drowned in puddles. The sun did come out hen the action did get underway, but conditions remained farcical in some areas of the pitch.

It was Gravesend who opened the scoring in the 13^th minute when Adam Flanagan brought down James Pinnock and left back Justin SKINNER stepped up to beat Tony Kessell from the penalty spot.

It was2-0 in the 45^th minute when Invicta defender John Guest left the ball after a clearly audible call from goalkeeper Kessell, only for striker ESSANDOH to nip in and score in off the post from close range.

Pinncok had been denied when Kessell saved with his feet after 14 minutes in a move also involving Jay Smith and Moussa Sidibe.

For Invicta, Anthony Hogg shot just wide from the edge of the box when Simon Glover touched a Paul Lamb cross back into his path after 26 minutes.

Both sides made the customary pre-season substitutions for the second half and Jamie Wood headed a cross from the right over for Gravesend after 68 minutes.

Kessell saved from Steve McNamara after 77 minutes when the visitors spread play from right to left and Daniel Jeffrey shot over as Gravesend threatened again two minutes later.

Striker James Dryden missed Invicta’s best chance of the game when he shot over in the 90^th minute after being through down the middle by Mark Munday.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell (Morin 83 mins), Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest (Walker 45 mins), Lindsey (Munday 45 mins), Everitt (Chandler 45 mins), Standen (Spearpoint 70 mins), Dryden, Glover, Hogg (Blackman 70 mins). 

GRAVESEND & NORTHFLEET: Mitten, Skinner, Protheroe, Porter, Shearer, Rousse, McKimm, Smith, Sidibe, Pinnock, Essandoh.  Subs: Wilkerson, Wood, McNamara, Ojelabi, Bounczi, Jeffrey.