Folkestone Invicta 2 Harrow Borough 1

Sunday 19th March 2006

Goals from Mark Saunders at the end of each half gave Folkestone Invicta victory over Harrow Borough at a bitterly cold Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon, writes Richard Murrill.

Saunders hit the winner in the 89^th minute, having equalised during first half stoppage time after Harrow had opened the scoring on an afternoon when the icy wind made conditions very difficult for the players.

Harrow went ahead in the 34^th minute when striker Brain Haule volleyed home after Elliot Onochie had played the ball in from the right hand side.

But Saunders levelled right on half time when he headed into the net after Martin Chandler’s deep cross from the left hand side hung in the air.

And former Gillingham star Saunders struck again to win the game in the closing minutes when he tapped the ball in at the far post after a low Matt Carruthers free kick came across from the left hand side.

Invicta had gone into the game with James Everitt coming in at right back for Mark Corneille, who has returned to Gillingham at the end of his loan spell.

For much of the first half, the weather looked like being the only winner as Victor Asombang didn’t get enough power or direction on his header from the game’s first corner after four minutes and, at the other end, a good Stuart Myall strike flew just wide from outside the penalty box three minutes later.

Chandler then rifled a shot just wide from the edge of the area after 24 minutes as the stalemate continued.

Haule’s goal put Invicta under pressure as the Folkestone side had scored just one goal in their previous five matches and were beginning to wonder just where their next goal was going to come from. Enter Saunders.

Invicta had the ball in the net again after 48 minutes when Saunders headed on a Steve Norman corner from the right for Carruthers to nod the ball in, but the ‘goal’ was ruled out by an assistant referee’s flag against Walid Matata who got a final touch on the goal line.

The home side were close again on the counter attack three minutes later when a high Carruthers cross hung in the air and Harrow goalkeeper Keita Karamoko touched James Everitt’s header past the post for a corner.

Saunders fired over when captain Adam Flanagan flicked on a Norman throw from the right after 61 minutes and Karamoko touched the ball past the post again a minute later when Matata cut in from the left hand side of the box.

Invicta were clearly going all out for the win as striker Joe Neilson replaced defender Everitt after 63 minutes.

But Harrow still carried a threat as Onochie headed just wide on the post when the ball came inform the right hand side after 69 minutes.

And substitute Marcus Campbell made an impact on the right flank as he fired just wide when Haule played the ball across to him after 78 minutes and the substitute’s cross was then touched onto the inside of the post by home goalkeeper Tony Kessell three minutes later.

Ross Fitzsimon then shot into the side netting from the subsequent corner from the left.

But Saunders was to have the final say.

Invicta’s Myall was the only player to be booked by referee Martin Yerby for an unsubtle retaliatory foul on Fitzsimon after 74 minutes.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, J. Everitt (Neilson 63), Flanagan, Shearer, Saunders, Chandler (M. Everitt 89), Myall, Matata, Carruthers, Norman. Subs: Fraser, Lamb, Mann.

HARROW BOROUGH: Karamoko, Nielsen, Protain (Miner 89), Walters, Browne, Fitzsimon, Asombang, Dogbe (Neufville 89), Onochie, Haule, Bent (Campbell 71). Subs: Diston, Nicholson.

Attendance: 346.