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Folkestone pay the price for missed chances

Folkestone Invicta suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Hendon on Tuesday night as they paid the price for not taking their first half chances and went down to a 56th minute goal from John Frendo as the visitors improved after the interval.

Invicta made just one change to Saturday’s line up with Martin Chandler coming in for Micheal Everitt (tendonitis) and the home side almost got off to a flying start as Mark Munday shot against the post after just four minutes when new boy Andrew Burke played the ball in from the left.

And Simon Glover was unable to convert when striking partner James Dryden played a low ball across from the left after ten minutes.

Hendon had a chance themselves when home goalkeeper Maurice Munden palmed away a Frendo shot after 16 minutes.

But Invicta were close again two minutes later when Dryden was unable to walk the ball around big goalkeeper Dave King.

A Munday header was headed off the line by Danny Julienne when Glover played the ball in after 28 minutes as Invicta remained in the ascendancy.

At the other end, Mark Nicholls shot over after 31 minutes when Mark Burgess played the ball over from the left to Julienne at the far post.

Invicta were agonisingly close after 38 minutes when Glover’s shot rolled towards the goal but was cleared by Dave Nolan from close to the line.

Chandler and Glover both had half chances as the ball still just wouldn’t fall for Invicta after 47 minutes.

But Hendon were to enjoy the better of the second half and Frendo’s shot was palmed away by Munden when the striker was out through with the visitors’ best chance thus far after 51 minutes.

Invicta responded and Glover headed across goal from Dryden’s left wing cross after 52 minutes.

The all-important goal came after 55 minutes when an Invicta attack broke down and FRENDO was put through to blast the ball into the right hand corner of the net.

Captain Scott Linsey shot at goalkeeper King from outside the penalty area as Invicta sought an instant reply.

The game now opened up as Dave Sargent’s shot from the right deflected for a Hendon corner after 59 minutes and Richard McDonagh’s shot was charged down inside the Invicta box.

For Invicta, Glover shot wide across goal when Chandler put him through after 63 minutes.

Munden touched over a Julienne free kick from the edge of the penalty area after 68 minutes when Adam Flanagan fouled McDonagh and the visitors could have increased their lead a minute later when McDonagh raced down the left hand side but pulled the ball back behind him in-coming team mates after Munden had cleared the ball straight to him.

There were chances at both ends after 71 minutes as Invicta centre half John Guest headed over a Drew Watkins free kick when Glover was fouled down the left hand side of the box and Julienne again forced a save from Munden.

King saved a Watkins free kick when handball was given against Sargent after 73 minutes, while Munden pushed a McDonagh shot from the left hand side away when he received a crossfield ball from Sargent after 81 minutes.

Chandler forced a corner with a close range header deep into stoppage time following a long Dryden throw from the left and a Dryden free kick was saved by King during the seventh minute of time added on after Dryden had himself been crudely checked on the edge of the box.

But this time there was to be no last-ditch get-out clause for an Invicta side which still has the best defensive record in the league but which on this occasion was found wanting at the other end.

There were bookings for home centre halves Guest and Flanagan and for Hendon’s Martin Vrhovski and Nicholls, both late in the game.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Munden, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler, Munday (Coleman 82 mins), Dryden, Burke, Glover.  Unused subs: Everitt, Walker, Dyson, Kessell.

HENDON: King, Nolan, M. Burgess, Carter, Street, Butler, McDonagh (Vrhovski 84 mins), Julienne, Frendo (Bangura 90 mins), Nicholls, Sargent.  Unused subs: Robinson, Hunt, J. Burgess.

Attendance: 328.