Ashford Town 1 Folkestone Invicta 1

ASHFORD TOWN 1-1 FOLKESTONE INVICTA
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 19^th July 2006
Stephen McCartney reports from The Homelands

Ashford Town striker Richard Sinden’s last-gasp equaliser made sure honours were even during a dour east Kent derby on a rain starved pitch at the Homelands tonight.

The former Maidstone United and Hythe Town striker latched onto a through ball before rounding Tony Kessell and slotting home.

Folkestone Invicta’s central defender Lee Shearer thought his 63^rd minute header had won the game for the Ryman Premier League visitors.

Shearer met Kevin Watson’s deep hanging far post corner and nodded home from close range.

Neil Cugley’s side, playing their third game compared to this being Ashford Town’s first outing, had enough chances to win the game - hitting the woodwork three times.

Ashford Town, who have yet signed any players for the new season, welcomed back Simon Glover and the midfielder is also known to Folkestone Invicta fans during his time at Cheriton Road.

The Ryman League Division One South hosts, meanwhile, twice went close on the stroke of half-time through Kenny Jarrett-Elliott and former Lyon first teamer, Goran Jerkovic.

But they had goalkeeper Simon Overland to thank for keeping them in the game, that got better as it wore on, as the tall goalkeeper, whose on a season’s loan from Nationwide Conference side Dagenham & Redbridge, made a string of fine saves late in the game to prevent Folkestone increasing their lead.

Sinden, meanwhile, was on hand to open his account for the pre-season campaign with virtually the last kick of the game.

Both sides fielded Frenchmen, with Simo Kayo Bertin, impressing during the second half for Folkestone.

The 21-year-old played for Solihull Borough last season but has now moved south, living in Dover.

And there is another Matata that’s been introduced to Kent football. Walid’s brother Hashim came off the bench to play for Ashford Town. But the Tottenham based pair arrived at the ground late due to delays en-route to Ashford.