Folkestone Invicta 3-2 Herne Bay - Bulgarian makes good early impression

Goals from Illyan Paumbov, Damian Abel and Ellis Remy gave Folkestone Invicta victory in their second pre-season friendly of the summer against Kent League side Herne Bay on a sunny Wednesday night at the Buzzlines Stadium, writes Richard Murrill.

The inclusion of Paumbov has been one of the main talking points of these summer games for Invicta and the Bulgarian again caught the eye and opened the scoring in the 30^th minute when striker Paul Jones recovered to back heel the ball into his path in a move also involving Abel and James Corbett.

Abel made it 2-0 in the 43^rd minute when he shot into the far corner of the net across goal after dispossessing centre half Stephen Hanson on the left hand side of the penalty area.

But Herne Bay pulled a goal back right on half time when Invicta centre half Liam Friend headed into his own net after Dave Soutan had played a deep free kick into the box from the right hand side.

Substitute Remy restored Invicta’s two-goal advantage in the 68^th minute when he ran on and slotted the ball into the net after Micheal Everitt put him clean through and he was given on-side.

Invicta gifted their visitors a second goal in the 80^th minute when Luke Harvey kept his composure to capitalise on a stray back pass from Charlie Glyde.

The game gave Invicta fans a first glimpse of summer signing David Piper at left back and second half substitute Dave Cook, a trialist from Bromley Green.

Paumbov was the first to go close when he warmed goalkeeper Jack Delo’s hands in the ninth minute to force a corner from the left hand side of the penalty area when he let fly after a ball from Ryan Briggs.

For Herne Bay, striker Adam Firth’s shot lacked power four minutes later when Soutan put him through.

Paumbov was involved again when he shot wide in the 15^th minute when Corbett played the ball back from the right hand side.

And the eager Jones shot wide on the turn after 21 minutes when he made space for himself and seemed set to score when captain Kevin Watson did well to nod the ball down.

Harvey shot over from just outside the box in the 42^nd minute as Herne Bay created a couple of half chances in between Invicta’s two goals before half time.
Invicta made four changes at the interval and a few more during the second half.

Midfielder Martin Chandler made an immediate contribution when he played the ball across to Remy who this time shot wide from the left hand side of the penalty area in the 71^st minute.

A close range Remy header was then touched over for a corner three minutes later.

Harvey’s goal gave Jason Lillis’ side a late lifeline in their first pre-season game of the summer and former Invicta player Dave Ward was among their visitors’ second half substitutes.

Folkestone Invicta: Stonebridge (Mann 60), Watson, Piper (Glyde 45), Paumbov, Friend, Chappell, Briggs (M. Everitt 38), Guiver (J. Everitt 45), Jones (Cook 45), Abel (Remy 45), Corbett.

Herne Bay: Delo, Forster, Kettle, Collins, Hanson, S. Brown, B. Brown, Soutan, Firth, McCarron, Harvey. Subs: Oliver, Wood, Scott, Ward, Ashmore.