Folkestone Invicta 1-5 Margate

Tuesday 29th August 2006

Folkestone Invicta’s poor start to the season continued when they were thrashed 5-1 at home to fellow Kent side Margate on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon to leave Neil Cugley’s side with just one point from their opening four Ryman Premier League fixtures, writes Richard Murrill.

Margate striker Danny Hockton helped himself to his second away hat-trick of August to condemn Invicta to their heaviest home defeat since going down 6-1 against Welling United in a Kent Senior Cup tie back in February 2003.

Invicta took the bold move of playing centre half Adam Flanagan at centre forward from the start to an add a physical presence to an attacking 4-2-4 line up and brought Paul Lamb straight back in after suspension to replace Flanagan at the heart of the defence against his former club.

There were early chances as Flanagan’s fourth minute header was touched past the post for a corner by Margate goalkeeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens when the ball came through the visiting defence.

But at the other end, Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell saved with his feet when striker James Pinnock shrugged off Lamb and seconds later Hockton shot just wide across goal when he got clear of centre half Lee Shearer.

It was an even opening half hour but two goals within three minutes were to give Margate a stranglehold on the game.

Invicta defender Steve Norman headed off the line to keep out a Hockton header, but the visitors were to open the scoring from Jimmy Jackson’s subsequent 37^th minute corner which was headed in by Hockton.

There was almost an instant response from the home side as goalkeeper Chalmers-Stevens got down to keep out a low Flanagan shot but couldn’t hold the ball and Walid Matata was close to forcing the rebound over the line.

It was 2-0 in the 29^th minute when Invicta conceded their third penalty in their opening four matches as Steve McKimm went down under challenge from Lamb and Hockton successfully converted the subsequent spot kick. Lamb was booked for his protests.

Again there was nearly an instant reply as Chalmers-Stevens came out to save from Paul Jones when Flanagan nodded the ball on.

Margate’s Justin Skinner was booked for a 52^nd minute clash with Mark Saunders and Saunders was close two minutes later when he got up to meet Lamb’s ball in, with Jones just unable to direct the ball in with his subsequent header.

Matata took the ball off the Margate defence, ran at goal and hit a low shot at Chalmers-Stevens after 54 minutes and Saunders curled a shot at the Margate goalkeeper two minutes later when he combined with Flanagan as heavy rain began to fall.

Invicta were making the running as Chalmers-Stevens saved with his feet to deny Matata when a Flanagan touch put him through after 62 minutes.

But Margate increased their lead courtesy of a sweet strike from Pinnock after 64 minutes when he curled the ball into the net from the left hand side to compound Invicta’s misery.

Chalmers-Stevens touched a 68^th minute Jones shot round the post for a corner from the edge of the penalty area when the Invicta striker tee-d himself up after receiving the ball from Matata.

There were chances at both ends in the 71^st minute when Jones was close at the far post from a corner and a Matt Carruthers shot was charged down, but Margate broke and Jackson shot just wide form the edge of the penalty area after running at the home defence.

Invicta substitute Joe Neilson was close to putting the ball into his own net after 75 minutes when Paull Abbott drilled the ball in from the right hand side following a move involving Greg Oates, captain Lee Protheroe and Pinnock.

And Hockton completed his hat-trick in the 78^th minute when he walked through the Invicta defence and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Matata provided some consolation for goal shy Invicta when he found the net for a third successive league game against Margate when Flanagan found Jones down the right hand side and the ball came across into the middle.

But Margate struck again to complete the scoring and hit five goals for a second consecutive away match when Jackson slotted the ball in at the far post following a move involving Hockton and McKimm.

Jones shot over from the edge of the box for Invicta after 90 minutes, but the result had long since been put beyond doubt.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Saunders, Norman, Flanagan, Shearer, Watson, M. Everitt, Lamb (Friend 72), Jones, Matata, Carruthers (Neilson 72). Subs: Chandler, Myall, Mann.

MARGATE: Chalmers-Stevens, Oates, Skinner, Protheroe (Standen 81), Trott, Donovan, McKimm, Abbott, Pinnock, Hockton, Jackson. Subs: Wild, Robinson, Wisker, Mitten.

Attendance: 524.