Ashford Town 1-0 Folkestone Invicta - Lye header settles derby

Danny Lye headed in the only goal of the game from a second half corner in what was a game of few chances played in front of a 734 crowd, the highest in the Ryman League Division One South so far this season.

Lye struck in the 62^nd minute when Ryan Briggs played in a corner from the right hand side to make it six successive wins for the Nuts and Bolts.

Invicta had gone into the game with goalkeeper Jack Delo making his debut in goal on loan from Ramsgate in place of the injured Charlie Mitten.

Mitten’s injury leaves James Dryden as Invicta’s only remaining ever present this season and the skipper was partnered in attack by Kieran Byrne.

Byrne shot wide on the turn in the seventh minute after a throw in on the right from James Everitt, while at the other end the game’s first corner led to a melee inside the Invicta penalty area two minutes later.

Ashford midfielder Lye let fly from outside the penalty area after ten minutes but his effort ended up well wide.

A 28^th minute Jimmy Jackson free kick threatened to fall to Micheal Everitt but an Ashford player got forward to clear.

And Delo was called into action in the 39^th minute when he touched over a Craig Wilkins header in the middle following a free kick on the right.

One goal was always likely to be decisive and Lye’s header put Ashford was to put in the driving seat.

Ashford striker Paul Jones then could not quite direct his shot on target as he closed in on goal after 75 minutes when under pressure from centre half Liam Friend.

There were second half bookings for Ashford’s Lye and Invicta’s Frankie Chappell.

Ashford Town: Barton, Elford, D. Brathwaite, E. Brathwaite, Ray, Briggs, Browne (Bottle 76), Lye, Wilkins (Spice 82), Jones, Sherwood.
Subs: Lovell, Humphreys, Ibrahim.

Folkestone Invicta: Delo, J. Everitt, Burchell (Vincent 73), Friend, Chappell, Dickson, M. Everitt, Byrne (Neilson 86), Dryden, Smith, Jackson.
Subs: Lindsey, Druscoll, Conyers.

Attendance: 734