Reports:

Staines Town 1-0 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta suffered a slender defeat away to Staines Town in the Ryman Premier League on Saturday afternoon as Ali Chaaban scored the only goal of the game at Wheatsheaf Park, writes Richard Murrill.

With Invicta now looking anxiously over their shoulders to stay above the sides below them and avoid relegation this was another ultimately fruitless afternoon for Neil Cugley’s side.

Invicta had won 1-0 here in the F. A. Trophy back in November thanks to a first half goal from Adam Flanagan (currently out injured), but this time the roles were reversed as it was Staines’ star man Chaaban who scored the solitary goal.

Chaaban’s goal came in the 42nd minute when he tapped the ball in from close range after striking partner Mark Nwokeji had got past Liam Friend and into the penalty area down the right hand side and played a low ball into the middle in a move started by Gareth Risbridger.

Both Chaaban and Nwokeji had scored twice in Staines’ 4-0 away win at Carshalton the previous Saturday, but this was to be another tight encounter between the two sides.

Invicta brought striker Paul Jones back into the starting line up to replace the injured Damian Abel (knee) on what was a sunny afternoon in Middlesex, with the vastly experienced Mark Saunders returning after a back injury and James Everitt starting on the substitutes’ bench.

Staines striker Dean Thomas shot over from close range after seven minutes with a clear chance when a Kevin Warner volley fell fortuitously to the centre forward who was given on-side.

The Swans’ Jon McDonald must have one of the longest throws in the game and when the right back launched the ball over half the length of the pitch after ten minutes to the skilful Chaaban, former Staines defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu had to clear a low cross to thwart Nwokeji.

Invicta’s Saunders then required lengthy treatment a minute later after being caught by Chaaban.

A Chaaban shot from outside the penalty area was deflected for the game’s first corner after 18 minutes when André Scarlett won the ball in midfield and played him through.

Invicta then enjoyed a spell of pressure as a great ball from Luke Howell sent James Corbett away down the left hand side after 25 minutes and the one-time Blackburn Rovers star’s shot was deflected across goal for Invicta’s first corner of the game.

Corbett then did very well in midfield three minutes later and sent Ellis Remy away down the left hand side and the centre forward’s inviting cross into the middle was just touched away from Jones for a corner.

A Corbett chip was headed over for another Invicta corner on the half hour mark and a Micheal Everitt shot was charged down two minutes later when Paul Lamb played the ball in to Remy.

Warner drilled the ball across goal for Staines from the left hand side after 38 minutes following a move involving Thomas and Scarlett, while at the other end Jones made room for himself and had a shot deflected for a corner a minute later.

But Chaaban’s goal was soon to give Staines the lead ultimately proved to be decisive.

A 44th minute long range strike from left back Dave Sargent was then kept out by Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell.

Invicta took the game to their hosts after the interval and remained in the game.

James Everitt replaced Saunders after 63 minutes and slotted in at right back, with Howell being pushed forward into midfield and Corbett playing just off the front two.

The visitors then made a bold move three minutes later when flair player Ben Sly replaced defender Friend to signal a switch to 4-3-3.

There had been few clear cut chances during the second half but the final quarter of an hour was end-to-end and played more akin to a cup tie as Invicta tried to salvage a point.

A dangerous McDonald cross from the right was headed out for a corner by Micheal Everitt in the middle after 76 minutes.

But Invicta’s best chance was to come in the 80 th minute when Corbett blasted over from close range after James Everitt had done well at the far post from Lamb’s deep cross on the left.

Warner shot over at the other end a minute later when he let fly from outside the penalty area.

Invicta were showing a sense of urgency to grab an equaliser, but escaped going further behind when Chaaban was put through after 83 minutes and shot against the foot of the post.

Invicta’s Saunders was the game’s only booking for a late 52nd minute challenge on McDonald and Invicta manager Cugley was banished to the stands by referee Andy Laver for comments made when disputing a stoppage time offside decision.

Staines Town: Allaway, McDonald (Flitter 84), Sargent, Thompson, Gordon, Scarlett, Warner, Risbridger, Thomas (De Lisser 87), Nwokeji, Chaaban. Subs: Maskell, Newton, Courtnage.

Folkestone Invicta: Kessell, Watson, Lamb, Okikiolu, Friend (Sly 66), Saunders (J. Everitt 63), M. Everitt, Jones, Remy, Corbett, Howell. Subs: Chandler, Rainbow, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 208

Chatham Town 0-0 Fleet Town

It’s certainly been all change at Chatham with five new faces in the line up since the last home game three weeks ago, writes Neil Sanders.

Defender Simon Groombridge and midfielder Drew Watkins made their first starts against 4^th placed Fleet Town and both looked comfortable.

Chatham’s Ian Hilaire had the first effort on target in the 17^th minute but his shot was comfortably saved by Fleet’s Paul Smith.

Darren Campbell beat the offside trap for the visitors after 26 minutes, only to see his shot well blocked by John Whitehouse with Danny White doing well to clear the rebound away quickly.

A fine run by Rob Denness past two defenders whilst cutting in from the right deserved a goal, but Smith was well placed to save.

Fleet came close to opening the scoring twice just before half time, the first being a sliced clearance by Darren Smith from a corner which hit his own crossbar and the second a powerful shot from James Field which brought a great save from Whitehouse.

Fleet came out strongly straight after half time forcing Tom Binks to head clear from under the bar and Whitehouse to make further good saves from Adam Wallace and Michael Douglas.

Groombridge was then unlucky with a neat flick from a free kick as Chatham started to get forward more often.

In the last quarter it was the Chats who came closest to breaking the deadlock with Mike McKenna having two decent opportunities.

The first came from a break down the right involving Rob Denness and Darren Smith with the final shot being pulled just wide of the post. The second was the result of a fine run from sub Mark Brooks but resulted in a straight forward save by Smith.

Nil nil at the end but both sides had their chances. Chatham will probably be happier with the point and to see Rob Goodger back in action, whilst Fleet manager Andy Sinton was certainly an unhappy man at the final whistle.

Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks, White, Groombridge, Brown (Goodger 20, (King 89)), Best, Smith, Watkins (Brooks 65), Hilaire, Denness, McKenna. Sub: Lyons.

Erith & Belvedere 5-0 Sporting Bengal United

Erith & Belvedere moved up to 8th place in the Kent Premier League with a
routine 5-0 win over basement boys Sporting Bengal United, writes Thomas Hawes.

However, with a whopping 42 shots on goal, the Deres should have joined Thamesmead Town in hitting the Bengalis for double figures, but poor finishing and a perhaps over-relaxed attitude from the Deres meant that it was only five.

When you’re at home to Sporting, getting an early goal is crucial if you want to limit the chances of one of those out of the blue Bengal upsets.

That’s exactly what Erith & Belvedere did after three minutes when Adrian Deane latched onto a loose ball 18 yards out and fired past Helal Uzzaman, who would go on to make 15 saves.

The home side were soon 2-0 up, Micky Collins the goalscorer. Collins made a superb run that evaded the poorly organised Bengal offside trap. Collins ran towards goal before cutting back past a scrambling Bengal defender before firing home.

The Deres had a third after 26 minutes. Man-of-the-match Adrian Deane mazed his way to the by-line before cutting the ball back to Steve White who couldn’t miss.

However, a minute earlier, White had done the impossible as he failed to make contact with another Deane cross. Had White made contact with the ball, then he would surely have scored.

Despite having had an astonishing 21 shots in the first half, somehow, Erith were only 3-0 up at half-time.

Collins got his second of the afternoon 15 minutes into the second half Mark Nougher couldn’t believe it when he found himself onside and with acres of space to run into but once again the Bengal offside trap had failed miserably. Nougher charged at goal before feeding in Collins, who fired home.

White and Collins both had yet more glorious chances to add to their goal tally before White made it 5-0 with a quarter of an hour to play.

Yet more lacklustre defending allowed White to charge at Uzzaman. This time White
finished with aplomb as he lobbed Uzzaman.

If only White had done that every time he had a one-on-one with Uzzaman then we may have been talking about a record amount of goals in one game for an Erith & Belvedere player.

Sporting Bengal’s Forhan Uddin charged through the Deres midfield before firing the ball inches over Alan Hughes’ crossbar.

Erith created a number of chances to make it six, including another White one-on-one with Uzzaman for his hat-trick, but the Deres were forced to settle with a 5-0 win over Bengal.

Erith & Belvedere: Hughes, Scowen, Diggins, Crawley, Maycock, Gross (Bignall 74), Deane (Bedford 57), Johnson (Durrant 78), Collins, White, Nougher. Subs: Clarke, Walker.

Sporting Bengal United: Uzzaman, Ali, F Uddin, Sadouk, Gaffar, Green, Itagaki, Rahman, Manning, S Uddin (Timbu 61) Subs: Shahin, Hasanath, Miah, Islam.

Attendance: 67

Sittingbourne 0-1 Cray Wanderers

Cray Wanderers last played at Central Park (in the main stadium) in Sittingbourne's first season there back in 1990, 17 years later both sides are back in the same league but currently going through different fortunes as Cray have rediscovered their early season form to register 4 wins out of their last 5 games (Including this one) whilst Sittingbourne have now gone 9 games without a win and are slipping towards the bottom of the form league, writes Peter Pitts.

Sittingbourne were missing goalkeeper Steve Williams, who had to leave the ground just before the game suffering from a heavy cold, Toby Ashmore and on loan Anthony Hogg are serving suspensions, whilst Jon Neal wasn't considered fit enough and wasn't named in the squad.

The pitch was only made playable after buckets full of water were removed from it. However, the heavy conditions were not at all conducive to good football meaning that the game was not much of a spectacle especially in the first half when there was only one direct shot on goal.

Cray started brightly but without troubling Sittingbourne goalkeeper Josh Willis.

Sittingbourne gradually got into the game and on 20 minutes a neat one / two between Kieran Marsh and Lee Browning almost led to a goal but Julian Curnow came in with a saving challenge.

Eight minutes later Sittingbourne were thwarted again this time when Hicham Akhazzan's shot was kicked off the line by Colin Luckett.

The second half was a much better spectacle as it was more open and had chances at both ends.

Cray forced Willis to push away a shot after two minutes of the half, their first shot on target, and Willis was in action again this time having hold a cross / cum shot from Jamie Wood.

Sittingbourne responded and Lee Browning in particular was beginning to take the game to Cray.

On 59 minutes he sent in a curling shot that Northwood safely gathered. A minute later Mark Lovell ran round the back of the Cray defence and passed back to Steve Searle, Searle crossed to Kieran Marsh whose shot was punched clear by Northwood.

Searle followed this up with a pass to Lovell who set up a chance for Akhazzan but Akhazzan's shot flew into the side netting. The side netting was then hit at the other end by Lewis Wood.

It was end to end now and Willis was forced to kick the ball off Jamie Wood's foot, then a first time shot by Dean Morris flew over the bar.

Cray Wanderers then scored the only goal of the game when on 77 minutes Willis had done well to punch away a shot but Jamie Kempster was on hand to fire the ball back in the net.

Sittingbourne pegged away but the nearest they got to an equaliser was on 86 minutes when a Browning corner found Mitchell Sherwood but his shot went wide and Sittingbourne slip down into the bottom half of the table

Sittingbourne: Willis, Spiller (Singh 81), Dowley, Ainsworth, Hockey (Knowles 32), Searle (Neilson 73), Browning, Marsh, Lovell, Akhazzan, Sherwood, Sub: Trabelsi

Cray Wanderers: Northwood, Hall, Luckett, Curnow, Lee, Morris, Lover, Kempster, J Wood (Brady 81), L Wood, Gardner (Gareth 60), Subs: Young, Eather, Beauchamp

Attendance: 180

VCD Athletic 2-0 Erith & Belvedere

Erith & Belvedere crashed out of the London Senior Cup at the Second Round
stage thanks to second half goals from Richard Sinden and Ashley Probet, writes Thomas Hawes.

With the pitch having passed an inspection at 1pm, the Deres were ready to see if they could make it third time lucky and finish a game at the revamped Oakwood ground for the first time.

In a game full of speculative efforts and half-chances, it was the visitors who created the first opportunity.

Within a minute of kick-off, VCD keeper Marc Brown was called into action after some good play between Steve White and Mark Nougher.

Nougher fed the ball into White who played it back to Nougher first time. The skillful winger found himself 18-yards out from goal, but seemed hesitant and could only manage a tame shot straight at Brown.

With both defences diffusing the play of the opposite attack easily, chances were few and far between. In fact, it wasn’t until the 26th minute that there was another meaningful shot.

Erith & Belvedere striker Mickey Collins had time to shift the ball out of his feet 12 yards out, but couldn’t produce a good finish and Brown once again made a routine save.

Vickers themselves had opportunities, but there was little to shout about at half-time and as the second half wore on extra-time looked even more likely.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, the home side sprung into life. First Danny Penny made a defence splitting run and having chipped the onrushing Craig Clark, it appeared as if Vickers had the lead.

However, the ball bounced off of the face of the post and into the arms of a relieved Craig
Clark.

Nevertheless, two minutes later the home side were ahead. This time it was Sinden who made the run through the Deres defence and the former Hythe Town player found the far corner of Clarke’s net.

Vickers doubled their lead a minute later via the penalty spot. Clark found himself in no-mans land when he failed to collect a cross, leaving Deres central defender Paul Gross no option but to foul a Vickers player waiting for an easy tap-in.

Gross managed to get away with a yellow card, but the damage was done and Ashley Probets coolly tucked home the spot-kick as he did some 100 hours earlier to book VCD’s place in the FA Vase 5th Round.

Erith rallied for a second and were unfortunate not to get a goal back on 77 minutes, but Marc Brown came to Vickers rescue. Adrian Deane fired into the top corner from 30 yards out and with Brown off of his line, it appeared that the match was back on. However, Brown somehow managed to tip the ball onto the bar and was alert enough to make a save from a diving header just seconds later.

Vickers played out the rest of the match and booked a Quarter Final tie against Spartan League Division One leaders Cockfosters.

VCD Athletic: Brown, Whitehouse (Ratchford 77), Hunt, Winchcombe (Ramirez 81), Driscoll, Coburn, Abbott, Penny, Horan (Ward 45), Sinden, Probets. Subs: Merridan, Huggins.

Erith & Belvedere: Clark, Crawley, Diggins, Morgan, Gross, Deane, Walker (McTaggart 77), Johnson, Collins, White), Nougher. Subs: Scowen, Chimmezie, Bedford.

Attendance: 74

Folkestone Invicta 0-2 Ramsgate

Folkestone Invicta’s poor home run continued on Saturday when they went down 2-0 against Kent rivals Ramsgate on a heavy pitch at the Buzzlines Stadium, writes Richard Murrill.

Invicta have now failed to win any of their last five home matches as Jim Ward’s side completed a league double over the Folkestone club.

Ramsgate again won the game with second half goals following a goalless first half, just as they done in a 3-0 win at Southwood back in October.

Once again the first goal was always going to be important and it went to the Thanet side in the 63rd minute. Substitute David Cory made an instant impact by playing the ball up to Stuart Vahid on the left hand side and the striker took full advantage by shooting past goalkeeper Tony Kessell as the Invicta custodian was caught in no-man’s-land after racing out and the ball rolled into the empty net.

And Cory himself made it 2-0 in the 88th minute when he shot into the net on the turn following a throw into the middle of the penalty area.

Invicta did have the ball in the net during stoppage time with a James Everitt header, but the ‘goal’ was ruled out by an assistant referee’s flag after substitute Ben Sly’s shot had fallen into Invicta’s path at the far post.

Manager Neil Cugley kept faith with the same starting line up which had won impressively at Harrow the previous Saturday.

But Invicta had the mud to thank for preventing Vahid from opening the scoring after seven minutes when Kessell had initially made a great save to deny the striker after Shaun Welford had flicked on Lee Minshull’s ball forward.

Minshull himself was then close from Welford’s long throw in after 17 minutes.

Invicta responded and striker Damian Abel had shots deflected for corners after both 18 and 26 minutes when he received the ball from Luke Howell and Liam Friend respectively.

Abel was close again after 28 minutes when he raced onto a long ball out of defence and went round goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson but ran out of both pitch and angle and could only shoot into the side netting.

Former Ramsgate left back Paul Lamb sent in a free kick just in front of centre forward Ellis Remy on the half hour mark after a foul by Akwasi Edusei on James Everitt.

But the visitors were themselves close again a minute later when Vahid mis-hit his volley in the middle following a cross by Dean Hill on the left.

And unmarked centre half Ollie Schulz volleyed wide from a Michael Yianni free kick after 38 minutes when Kevin Watson was adjudged to have fouled Welford.

Invicta were denied within a minute of the second half when James Corbett was brought down right on the edge of the penalty area after James Everitt put him through, with Watson hitting his free kick into the wall and Abel’s follow up also charged down.

Abel then chipped wide from the left hand side of the penalty area after 51 minutes following a move involving Howell and Friend.

A Howell shot was blocked eight minutes later when Remy pulled the ball back in the penalty area.

Vahid couldn’t quite get a vital touch on the goal line at the other end when a throw in from the left was flicked on in the 62nd minute.

But the Ramsgate striker did not have to wait long before breaking the deadlock.

There was anxiety in the Invicta box again two minutes later when Friend had to clear after Simon Pettit put Vahid through again.

Ramsgate goalkeeper Wilkerson made a great save to deny Friend in the 75 minute when the Invicta defender met a Corbett free kick after a foul on Abel.

But Invicta had goalkeeper Kessell to thank for an excellent save with his legs in the 81st minute when Welford was put through despite looking suspiciously offside.

And Kessell came to Invicta’s rescue again two minutes later when he saved one-on-one from Cory when the substitute went past Watson down the right hand side.

The game had well and truly opened up as an Abel shot struck the outside of the post in the 84th minute and Cory blasted over at the other end a minute later when Ramsgate broke through Welford.

Invicta had a couple of second half penalty appeals turned down when Abel and Howell went down inside the box, but this was again Ramsgate’s day as they moved up to sixth in the Ryman Premier League table.

Folkestone Invicta: Kessell, Watson, Lamb (Sly 69), Okikiolu, Friend, J. Everitt, M. Everitt, Abel, Remy (Jones 81), Corbett, Howell. Subs: Guiver, Saunders, Stonebridge.

Ramsgate: Wilkerson, Burton, Hill, Morris, O. Schulz, Pettit, Yianni, S. Vahid (Gregory 80), Welford, Minshull, Eduesi (Cory 62). Subs: Munday, Graham, May.

Attendance: 485.

Metropolitan Police 4-0 Chatham Town

After last weeks encouraging performance, Chatham would have been hopeful for their trip to Met Police, writes Neil Sanders.

But it didn't turn out that way with the 4-0 scoreline telling the story itself.

Chats best spell came in the first 20 minutes when Mark Brooks and Rob Denness were just off target with a header and curling shot respectively.

Last week’s debut scorer Ian Hilaire had the best chance when he got clear only to find Police keeper Will Packham coming out quickly to block his shot.

After that Chatham never looked like stealing anything from the Met. It was particularly worrying how often the home team were able to get in behind the visitors.

The first goal came after 35 minutes when a quick throw and through ball caught Chats napping and put James Evans clear inside the box. He produced a good finish from 15 yards.

Ten minutes after the break it became 2-0 when a Ryan Gray free kick, resembling Frank Lampards effort for Chelsea last week, sailed through the visitors box and inside the far post without a touch from anyone else.

Rob Denness, with a 25 yarder, had Chatham's only shot on target in the second half, but it was comfortably held by Packham.

The third goal came after 78 minutes when Tony Finn broke clear on the left and his cross was scrambled over the line at close range by Jon Daly.

Chat's keeper John Whitehouse then made an excellent double save with a minute to go.

However, the Police found time to notch a fourth goal when Barry Stevens ran in unmarked to volley home at the near post as the game went into stoppage time.

Chatham: Whitehouse, Binks, White (Phillips 70), Larkin (Groombridge 81), Brown, Best, Smith, Brooks, Hilaire, Denness, McKenna (James 59). Subs: King, Goodger.