hampton140904

Currie gives Folkestone problems

Folkestone Invicta were beaten 2-1 away to Hampton and Richmond Borough in a proverbial game of two halves at the Beveree Stadium on Tuesday night.

Invicta were often at sixes and sevens during the first half and trailed 2-0 at half time, but completely dominated after the interval and pulled a goal back through Simon Glover after 62 minutes.

The visitors welcomed back Mark Munday and had captain Scott Lindsey passed fit after picking up a rib injury in Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Wealdstone.

But Invicta made a poor start as their hosts had three chances within the opening five minutes.

Lee O’Leary hit  low shot at goalkeeper Tony Kessell from the edge of the area following an Alan Inns ball in the 3^rd minute and Andy Morley’s shot from the left flashed past the Invicta post a minute later.

Hampton centre forward Adrian Allen then missed the first of two clear chances when a low through bal sent him away down the middle, but goalkeeper Kessell held his ground and made a very good save with his legs.

Invicta came desperately close to opening the scoring after ten minutes when home goalkeeper Kieron Drake made a brilliant reaction save to keep out James Dryden’s diving header following an outstanding right wing cross from the inventive Drew Watkins and Dryden volleyed the rebound against the crossbar from close range on his 200^th starting appearance for Invicta.

At the other end, Allen was given on-side when put clean through again, this time by Graham Harper, after 15 minutes and centre half Adam Flanagan was there to clear off the line when the striker got his shot in when forced wide by Kessell.

The home side went ahead after 26 minutes when CURRIE’s shot crept past Kessell and into the far corner of the net.

Home strikers Currie and Allen were causing the Invicta defence problems and John Guest blocked the latter’s shot as Hampton won their first corner of the game after 29 minutes.

The Hampton strikers were involved again as they forced a corner from Munday after 34 minutes and captain Jamie JARVIS headed home when Craig Lewington’s subsequent bal in from the left was not cleared.

Invicta came out purposefully at the start of the second half and began to camp in their opponents’ half.

They were thrown a lifeline when Flanagan headed a deep Watkins free kick into the box, Munday got a touch and GLOVER thumped the ball into the net. It was Glover’s fifth goal of the season, taking him one ahead of Dryden as Invicta’s top goalscorer so far this season.

Kessell came out to save when Allen put Hampton substitute Abby Nsubuga through after 76 minutes and Jones shot narrowly wide when Nsubuga turned provider three minutes later.

Nsubuga then forced an acrobatic save from Kessell after 83 minutes.

A Micheal Eveirtt shot was deflected over for a corner with Invicta’s best chance to equalise after 84 minutes when Munday’s ball back in from the left was met by Dryden.

And Dryden headed at goalkeeper Drake in a crowded goalmouth in the final minute as Invicta threw everyone forward in search of an equaliser.

Hampton’s Harper tried to lob Kessell from distance during stoppage time as even the Invicta goalkeeper dribbled the ball forward on a mazy run to the half way line.

There were bookings for Hampton substitute Luke Fontana (kicking the ball away after 88 minutes) and for Invicta’s Flanagan (late tackle on Currie after 21 minutes) and Martin Chandler (foul on O’Leary after 46 minutes).

HAMPTON and RICHMOND BOROUGH: Drake, Harper, Wells, Lewington, Jarvis, Jeffrey, Inns, Currie (Nsubuga 69 mins), Allen (Fontana 86 mins), O’Leary, Morley.  Unused subs: Fernandes, Ulasi, O’Connor.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey (Pulman 81 mins), Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Everitt, Glover. Unused subs: Walker, Coleman, Dyson, Morrin. 

Attendance: 166.