Folkestone Invicta 1-2 Staines Town

Folkestone Invicta were beaten 2-1 at home to Staines Town on Saturday afternoon as they returned to Ryman Premier League action after two recent cup defeats, writes Richard Murrill.

Ali Chaaban opened the scoring from close range for Staines after 15 minutes when Dave Sargent’s corner from the right hand side eventually fell to him.

Neil Lampton made it 2-0 with an unstoppable strike after 62 minutes when he let fly across goal into the far corner of the net from the right hand side of the penalty area after a great initial first touch.

Luke Howell pulled a goal back from close range for Invicta after 84 minutes when Walid Matata played a low ball across from the left hand side of the box in a move started by Paul Jones. It was 18-year-old Howell’s first goal for the club since his loan move from Gillingham.

Invicta fielded new signing striker Damian Abel after his midweek move from neighbours Hythe Town as they look to rebuild after being forced to release Samuel Kola Okikiolu and Ellis Remy the previous weekend.

Roy Guiver was suspended after returning to Invocta colours in the midweek Kent Senior Cup reverse against Ashford Town, with Mark Saunders coming back in after his recent nose injury.

Howell started at the heart of the defence alongside captain Adam Flanagan and fellow teenager Liam Friend, with Matata, Jones and Abel forming a three-pronged attack.

There were chances at both ends within the opening minute as Jake Newton cleared from close to the Staines goal line and Howell then had to touch the ball back to goalkeeper Tony Kessell when Andres Scarlett broke forward and tried to square the ball across to Chaaban.

Matata headed tamely at goalkeeper Shaun Allaway in the eighth minute.

But Staines were soon in the ascendancy when a free kick close to the left hand side of the penalty area was headed out by Steve Norman for the first corner of the game which led to Chaaban’s goal.

Staines right back Newton escaped with just a yellow card when he manhandled Jones after the striker got clear when released by Matata.

Staines should have increased their lead after 22 minutes when Darius Charles was guilty of a glaring miss from close range in the middle when a low ball came across after Sargent had found Lampton down the right.

Kessell then saved with his feet four minutes later to deny Mark Nwokeji when Chaaban played a low ball through.

At this stage everything was going Staines’ way as Lampton intercepted an Invicta corner which Kevin Watson played back to Norman and the visitors broke and forced a corner of their own when Norman got back to retrieve the situation when Chaaban attempted to play Nwokeji in.

But Invicta responded as a Watson shot was cleared off the line after 36 minutes when a Norman free kick from the left was nodded on.

Staines goalkeeper Allaway was injured in that attack and had to be replaced by substitute James Courtnage.

Matata headed over after 40 minutes when Norman sent the ball in from the left and Jones threatened to go round goalkeeper Courtnage down the right hand side of the box right at the start of the second half.

Micheal Everitt then hit a great 30-yard strike just wide after 51 minutes when Norman’s free kick came back out to him after Sargent was booked when Abel was fouled by Charles by the right hand corner flag.

But Lampton’s goal was to put Staines well on their way to a third successive league win at Folkestone.

Howell had moved forward into midfield for Invicta and his ball across from the left was blasted over by Jones after 68 minutes.

A Matata shot was cleared off the line by Kevin Warner four minutes later and Mark Saunders headed over at the far post following a corner from the right.

Courtnage then kept out a Matata header a minute later when Watson played the ball in from the right.

Kessell saved at his near post when Warner ran at the Invicta defence after 79 minutes and Invicta’s Saunders was booked for dissent four minutes later when Courtnage needed treatment after being caught by Abel.

Howell’s goal briefly raised Invicta’s hopes of a dramatic late escape and Matata hit a low shot at Courtnage from just outside the penalty area after 87 minutes.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, Norman, Flanagan, Friend, Howell, M. Everitt, Abel, Matata, Saunders, Jones. Subs: J. Everitt, Rainbow, Sly, Stonebridge.

STAINES TOWN: Allaway (Courtnage 37), Newton, Sargent, Smith, Charles, Scarlett, Warner, Thomas, Lampton, Nwokeji, Chaaban. Subs: Maskell, Haverson, Kiffin, Robinson.

Attendance: 292.