Harlow Town 0-3 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta got off the mark in the new Ryman Premier League season with an emphatic 3-0 win away to Harlow Town amidst glorious Bank Holiday weekend sunshine on Saturday afternoon to inflict the Essex club’s heaviest defeat so far at their new Barrow Farm Stadium, writes Richard Murrill.

Goals from Leigh Bremner, Kevin Watson and Roland Edge lifted the gloom at the Folkestone club as Neil Cugley’s side turned in the sort of performance which had led to greater expectations at the club this season before they had lost their opening two fixtures.

There were good performances all over the pitch for Invicta as the hard-working Bremner led the line as a lone striker in a new 4-5-1 formation with James Corbett playing just behind him. Bremner had been passed fit after a groin injury and battled away to provide the visitors with an outlet, held the ball up and generally made himself a nuisance to the home defence.

Youngsters Liam Friend (aged 19) and Frankie Chappell (aged 18) put in immaculate performances at the heart of a four-man defence missing the watching Samuel Kola Okikiolu (hamstring).

Damian Abel flourished in a new role on the right flank which many believe to be where he could see him at his most effective and the versatile Watson set up the first goal and scored the second in a new role on the left hand side of midfield.

Invicta were in control of the match from the start as they enjoyed the better of the early exchanges on the type of excellent playing surface which usually brings the best out of them.

And the visitors did the important thing of scoring when they were on top as Bremner got across his defender to flick Watson’s 18^th minute cross into the far corner of the net.

Harlow were struggling to make in-roads as Kenny Davis got to the right hand bye line but pulled the ball back behind striker James Bunn in the middle after 21 minutes.

Clark Akers then turned on the right hand side of the penalty area but shot high and wide when under pressure from centre half Chappell after 28 minutes.

And Invicta increased their lead in the 40^th minute when Watson smashed the ball into the roof of the net with some aplomb when James Everitt’s ball in from the right hand side fell to him at the far post. The younger Everitt brother had received the ball back from right back David Piper after taking a short throw in.

Harlow goalkeeper Ian Joyce turned a Bremner snap shot past the post for a corner after 47 minutes when Abel played the ball up to James Everitt inside the penalty area.

And Abel himself shot at Joyce after running from right to left eight minutes later.

Harlow responded as the introduction of substitute Tobi Oshitola prompted the home side’s best spell of the match around the hour mark.

Chappell cleared off the line when Oshitola almost made an immediate impact after 57 minutes and Oshitola was close again with a low shot just wide of the far post across goal from the right hand side of the penalty area a minute later.

Akers whipped in a dangerous cross from the right which won Harlow a corner after 60 minutes and Oshitola ran at the Invicta defence and shot at goalkeeper David Hogan from the right three minutes later.

But Invicta were not finished as Abel ran through the home defence from the right hand side and toe-poked a shot at Joyce in the 72^nd minute when Edge won the ball at the other end and substitute Ryan Briggs played the ball forward.

Invicta’s third goal came in the 80^th minute when Leon Lalite was booked for bringing Abel down when he was in full flow again on the right and new captain EDGE opened his account for the club by converting Briggs’ subsequent free kick.

It had been a triumphant afternoon for Invicta’s two centre halves and Chappell cleared spectacularly to prevent the ball from reaching Bunn when Akers chipped the ball in from the right.

Harlow’s one-time Invicta defender Danny Chapman and the visitors’ Watson had both been booked after 53 minutes.

Two seasons ago it had taken Invicta seven games to win their first league match of the season and last term it took eight, so these three points were most welcome for the Folkestone club.

This time it was Harlow who were left to reflect on a heavy home defeat – their first loss since winning promotion last season – as Invicta had to after their opening day drubbing at home to Wealdstone, who incidentally have lost their two subsequent home matches.

What a difference a week makes.

HARLOW TOWN: Joyce, Davis, Warren (McGowen 85), Hollenbach, Miles, Chapman (Glidden 82), Lalite, Hill (Oshitola 56), Bunn, Fowler, Akers.
Subs: Williams, Dumoulin.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Hogan, Piper, Edge, Watson, Friend, Chappell, J. Everitt, M. Everitt (Sly 77), Abel, Bremner (Remy 80 mins), Corbett (Briggs 67). 
Subs: Dickson, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 298.