Tonbridge Angels 3-3 Folkestone Invicta

Monday 09th April 2007

Folkestone Invicta staged a memorable comeback at a sunny Betterview Longmead Stadium on Easter Monday to return with a point despite trailing 3-0 after just 31 minutes, writes Richard Murrill.

It had all been doom and gloom for the visitors during a torrid first half. But an Ellis Remy goal just before half time threw Neil Cugley’s side a lifeline and in a complete second half turnaround the Folkestone side might even have won the game after two goals in two minutes from James Corbett and Remy again brought them level.

Corbett and Damian Abel both then had chances to put a now rampant Invicta side ahead in front of a 543 holiday crowd.

Invicta kept the same starting line up which had drawn with Heybridge Swifts on Good Friday and had an early chance when Corbett fired wide in the fifth minute after Paul Lamb’s free kick from the right came back out inside the penalty area.

But it was the home side who opened the scoring in the 15^th minute with their first of only two corners as John Beales got round the back to head home Matt Lovell’s ball in.

The corner had been gained as Liam Friend put the ball out with a sliding tackle after Ian Parkes had won the ball and sent danger man Jon Main loose on the Invicta defence.

Invicta captain Adam Flanagan got in on the end of a Kevin Watson free kick after 20 minutes but could not direct the ball into the net after Mark Saunders had required treatment for a nose injury following a clash with Alex O’Brien.

But a three goal spell in 17 minutes for Tonbridge was to make this an uncomfortable first half for Invicta.

Striker Luke Piscina made it 2-0 in the 28^th minute with a good strike in off the underside of the crossbar which goalkeeper Richard Martin got a hand to but could not keep out.

And the prolific Main made it 3-0 in the 32^nd minute when the newly crowned Tonbridge Player of the Year showed just how dangerous he can be as he slotted the ball into the net after running at the Invicta defence and playing a one-two with Nick Barnes.

It looked as though Tonbridge were going to sign off in style in their last home match of a successful season after winning promotion last year.

The home side lost right back Scott Gooding with a shoulder injury before half time, whilst Invicta’s change was tactical as the more mobile Ben Sly came on for left back Lamb.

And the visitors were given a glimmer of hope when Remy pulled a goal back in the 45^th minute after Matt Bromby had cleared a back pass straight to him and the centre forward kept his feet after going round the goalkeeper to put the ball into an empty net.

Bromby then touched a Remy header round the post right on half time as Invicta gave a late indication of what was to come.

The visitors had to re-adjust as the influential Flanagan had to be replaced by James Everitt at half time.

But Invicta were to dominate the second half as Bromby saved from Abel in the 51st minute when the striker cut back across Barnes after Corbett had put him through down the right hand side.

Bromby then touched a 30-yard Watson shot round the post five minutes later.

And it was 3-2 in the 59^th minute when the classy Corbett picked his spot and fired into the net after substitute Sly had nodded down Watson’s ball forward.

Incredibly, it was 3-3 a minute later when top goalscorer Remy volleyed in his second goal of the match after a James Everitt free kick had ricocheted off two defenders and into his path.

There was still half an hour to play and Samuel Kola Okikiolu got a vital touch to deny Main in the penalty area after 63 minutes.

Corbett then had a great chance to put Invicta ahead two minutes later when he shot over the crossbar after Sly had done well down the left hand side and played the ball in to Abel.

Invicta were now on top but seconds later Main shot wide from the edge of the penalty area following a Piscina touch.

It was now Invicta who looked like scoring almost every time they attacked and Abel was wide at the far post after 66 minutes when Okikiolu played the ball up to Remy down the right hand side and the centre forward got the ball across.

Substitute Jonathan Heath then made a saving tackle to deny Abel after 71 minutes when James Everitt and Saunders combined to put him through down the right.

Parkes volleyed wide for Tonbridge from the edge of the penalty area after 75 minutes and Okikiolu made a saving tackle on Main when a Fraser Logan through ball threatened to give Tonbridge’s top goalscorer a late chance to win it.

Tonbridge Angels: Bromby, Gooding (Heath 34), Lovell, Parkes, Aris, Beales, Barnes, O’Brien (O’Neill 72), Piscina, Main, Logan.
Subs: Dolby, Cramp, Dann.

Folkestone Invicta: Martin, Watson, Lamb (Sly 34), Flanagan (J. Everitt 45), Friend, Okikiolu, M. Everitt, Saunders, Remy, Corbett, Abel.
Subs: Dickson,.Guiver, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 543.