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Cugley gets his predicted goal feast

Folkestone Invicta won through to the next round of the FA Trophy when goals from James Dryden (2), Stuart Myall, John Guest and Adam Flanagan made it home sweet home against former Wembley winners Wealdstone as their Second Qualifying Round tie turned into a goal feast at the Buzzlines Stadium, writes Richard Murrill. 

Manager Neil Cugley had indicated in his programme notes that goals might well be on the agenda and he was proved right as Invicta raced into a 3-0 lead after 38 minutes before Wealdstone came right back into things with two goals in the closing five minutes of the first half.

Playing their first home match for a month after six consecutive away matches, Invicta threatened early on when a Steve Norman shot from just outside the penalty area was charged down following a Paul Lamb corner on the right.

Wealdsotne were close after 14 minutes with a looping header from Richard Jolly after 14 minutes when Ross White played in a free kick from the left.

But Invicta went straight up the other end and opened the scoring in the 15^th minute when Myall celebrated his 31^st birthday by beating a defender and smashing the ball into the net after a great ball from Dryden.

It was 2-0 after 22 minutes courtesy of a virtuoso solo goal from Dryden when he cut in from the left hand side and poked the ball into the far corner of the net.

And Invicta appeared to be cruising when centre half Guest made it 3-0 after 38 minutes when he bundled a Lamb free kick in at the far post on his 150^th starting appearance for the club following a handball decision against White.

Wealdstone responded with a near post header from Jolly which was comfortably kept out by goalkeeper Tony Kessell after 39 minutes.

Invicta’s lead was reduced after 41 minutes when Jermaine Beckford hooked the ball in at the second attempt after Kessell had saved his initial effort following a cross from the right.

And Wealdstone hit back again as Jolly stepped up to beat Kessell from the penalty spot following an infringement by Norman on Beckford in the 45^th minute when White played a free kick into the box.

A Lee Holland shot was then charged down by Guest during first half stoppage time as the visitors threatened again.

Wealdstone came very close to an equaliser after 51 minutes when Holland nodded the ball on to Jolly and first Guest threw himself in the way to block and Kessell then made an acrobatic save as the ball just stayed out.

Substitute Philip Turner then headed narrowly wide at the far post when Jolly played the ball in after 53 minutes.

But Invicta defenders Guest and Flanagan were both close after 58 minutes when a Lamb corner from the right led to a scramble in the Wealdstone goal mouth after Paul Jones and James Everitt had combined down the right hand side.

A Jolly shot dipped over for Wealdstone on the hour from a Turner ball as the visitors broke.

But Invicta were given breathing space again after 61 minutes when Flanagan scored from close range following a Lamb corner on the right.

Dryden headed just wide from close to the line when Lamb sent in another corner from the right after 73 minutes and goalkeeper Arron Benstead made a great save to deny Dryden after 76 minutes from a Jones ball in a move also involving Lamb and captain Scott Lindsey.

But Dryden struck again to restore Invicta’s three-goal advantage second later in the 77^th minute when the ball was slid through to him.

Wealdstone completed the scoring in the 80^th minute when Graham Montgomery let fly from the left and scored in off Kessell following a crossfield ball from Dave Ryan.

The visitors has further chances as Beckford chipped at Kessell when Lindsey gave the ball away in the 83^rd minute and Turner chipped wide from the left hand side when Flanagan missed a clearance from Benstead.

But Invicta might have struck again when Jones shot on the turn at Benstead in the 84^th minute after initially mis-controlling a Dryden ball and Benstead denied Jones during stoppage time.

Invicta also had the ball in the net again but this time Guest’s far post effort was ruled out.

There was a minute’s silence before the game for Southern League chairman Doug Gillard who died last week after a short illness.