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Poor run continues for Invicta

Folkestone Invicta suffered another disappointing home defeat when they went down 2-1 at home to Worthing at a wet Westbourne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Liam Collins opened and closed the scoring for the visitors, with James Dryden bringing Invicta level right on half time.

This was a result which Invicta could certainly have done without as the statistics are starting to make difficult reading. Invicta have now taken just three points out of their last possible 21 and have not won for eight games in all competitions.

Worthing got off to the perfect start on Saturday as they opened the scoring within 90 seconds courtesy of a perfectly executed delicate chip from COLLINS when a ball over the defence put him in behind centre half John Guest.

The Sussex club recently signed Collins from Kingstonian, with the club’s top goalscorer Phil Ruggles going in the opposite direction and he made an immediate impact on this game.

It could have been worse for Invicta when Worthing striker Matt Russell put the ball into the net a minute later, but this time the ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside.

The visitors might have scored again after 18 minutes as Mark Pulling was wide with a glancing header when Collins whipped the ball in from the right after Russell had played the ball out wide.

Invicta were twice close themselves after 28 minutes when Dryden volleyed over when Simon Glover nodded down Paul Lamb’s ball in from the left and Glover himself then capitalised on centre half Adam Flanagan’s ball over the defence but goalkeeper Mark Ormerod came out to smother the shot.

The home side were level in the 45^th minute when DRYDEN nodded Lamb’s corner from the right in with a slight touch at the near post.

Goalkeeper Tony Kessell had to come out early in the second half when he saved with his feet from Russell after 48 minutes when Mark Knee touched the ball through.

Another Collins shot flew just past the far post after 65 minutes when substitute Matt Geard’s ball played him in down the right hand side.

The two players were involved again for Worthing’s winning goal after 78 minutes when a ball down the middle found Geard who sent COLLINS away to slot the ball into the net for his second goal of the game.

Kessell had to race out and save with his feet from Geard after 81 minutes when Stewart Holmes touched on a cross from the right.

Collins turned provider after 87 minutes when he put Tom Smith through, but the substitute’s chip was deflected away for a corner.

Invicta were denied a stoppage time penalty when a free kick was awarded for a push on Dryden just outside the area when the offence appeared to have taken place inside the box. Worthing’s Pullan was booked for questioning the award of a foul, whilst Invicta’s Martin Chandler was also cautioned for his protests that it had taken place inside the area.

Already in referee Lee Venemore’s notebook were Scott Lindsey (late challenge on Collins after 52 minutes) and Andrew Burke (late tackle on Jay Head after 67 minutes) and Worthing’s Russell (late challenge on Flanagan after 61 minutes) and Geard (kicking the ball away after 70 minutes).

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Burke, Glover.  Unused subs: Coleman, Walker, Spearpoint, Dyson, Morrin.

WORTHING: Ormerod, Lutwyche, Knee, Pullan, Lamont, Head, Collins, Rogers, Russell (Smith 83 mins), Holmes, Pulling (Geard 64 mins).  Unused sub: Dicker.

Attendance: 317.