fleetvfolk280204

Fourth placed Folkestone destroy Fleet

Ayling hat-trick piles more misery on bottom-of-the-table Fleet

Fleet Town 2-6 Folkestone Invicta
Dr Martens League Eastern Division
Saturday 28 February 2004
by Richard Murrill

John Ayling grabbed a hat-trick as Folkestone Invicta helped themselves to a 6-2 win away to bottom-of-the-table Fleet Town at Calthorpe Park on Saturday afternoon.

Invicta were twice behind during the first half but came back to go in 2-2 at half time and were awarded three penalties after the interval.

Ayling was only in the starting line up due to a calf injury in the warm up to Tim Hambley who has renewed his loan spell from Welling United for a third month.

It was the second successive match in which Invicta have tasted the joy of six after their half a dozen against Dartford in midweek and the second time this season they have put six past Fleet.

And yet the Hampshire side had made a good start in the light snow.

Invicta hearts were in their mouths when goalkeeper Tony Kessell made contact to bring Eddie Smith down when a ball over the defence sent the striker away down the right hand side. Kessell escaped with just a yellow card, but Fleet were to open the scoring from the subsequent free kick after 14 minutes when Shaun HALE converted a well-struck set piece from the edge of the area.

The visitors were level after 20 minutes when centre half Adam FLANAGAN headed in a Paul Lamb free kick from the right following a foul on James Dryden.

Fleet restored their lead after 26 minutes when a quick thrown in from Hale found SMITH unmarked down the left hand side and he hit a sweet chip over Kessell.

But Invicta were level again within a minute when AYLING showed great skill to work himself through and smashed the ball into the net.

Dryden fired over from 25 yards in the 45^th minute as the sides went in level at half time.

But Invicta were ahead for the first time after 49 minutes when a Lamb free kick was volleyed in AYLING following a foul on Allan Tait by Tony Millerick.

Ayling then had a shot cleared off the line when a Martin Chandler corner from the left fell to him at the far post and an Anthony Hogg shot was saved by home goalkeeper Calvin Sparshatt after 55 minutes.

Invicta were awarded their first penalty after 59 minutes when a Lamb cross struck home captain Ian Saunders on the hand and CHANDLER stepped up to convert the penalty to goalkeeper Sparshatt’s right.

Invicta were given another penalty for handball after 66 minutes when Lee Blakely handled Tait’s shot on the line after Sparshatt had saved from Hogg. But this time the Fleet goalkeeper got down to save Chandler’s spot kick.

Mark Munday was close following Lamb’s 75^th minute corner from the right and Sparshatt touched over Dryden’s shot from the right hand edge of the box after 78 minutes.

Blakey conceded his second penalty of the game and was duly booked for bringing Ayling down after 81 minutes and the 21-year-old striker completed his hat-trick with a low penalty to Sparshatt’s left.

Substitute Lee BLACKMAN completed the scoring in the 90^th minute when Hogg dinked the ball in after a short Chandler corner from the left.

As well as Kessell and Blakely, there were also bookings for Fleet’s Craig Anstey (late challenge on Flanagan after 72 minutes), Saunders (foul on Ayling after 80 minutes) and Smith (late tackle after 83 minutes) and for Invicta’s Flanagan (pulling Richard Mealey back after 56 minutes) and Micheal Everitt (foul on Hale after 62 minutes).

FLEET TOWN: Sparshatt, Dalton (Byfield 86 mins), Millerick, Hare (Leworthy 62 mins), Blakely, Saunders, Boyle (Black 62 mins), Anstey, Mealey, Smith, Hale.  Unused subs: Buckland, May.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Ayling, Chandler, Munday (Lindsey 79 mins), Dryden, Tait (Blackman 79 mins), Hogg.  Unused subs: Watkins, Dyson.

Attendance: 132.

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