Invicta’s pre-season schedule continues with a trip to North Kent to face Herne Bay

Invicta

With 4 wins from 4, Invicta have had a perfect start to pre-season so far this summer. 

Dan Smith’s double at Sittingbourne on Tuesday night has him leading the scoring charts so far, ahead of Tom Derry with 3. 

Saturday is the 5th of a run of away fixtures to begin the summer before Invicta return to the Alcaline Stadium on Tuesday evening for the first of 3 home fixtures. 

From The Manager

Manager Andy Drury spoke following Tuesday night’s win at Sittingbourne:

“We’ll go to Herne Bay and look to be better than we were tonight, which I’m sure we will do.

I’m looking forward to it, it will probably be the last game where we are looking to give lads minutes and we will probably start playing them for 90 after that.

We’re still one or two away recruitment wise, things are happening and it’s just how quickly they can come in.”

Kit

Invicta will line up in our red & white away kit on Saturday with Herne Bay in blue.  

Previously

The sides last met back in October in a Velocity Trophy clash that Invicta won 3-2 on penalties, Luke Holness scoring an 85th minute equaliser for Invicta.

The sides met home and away in the Isthmian Premier Division in the 2022/23 season, Invicta winning both games 2-1. 

You can see the highlights from the home fixture on Invicta TV:

The Opposition

We can expect to see some familiar faces lining up against Invicta on Saturday, with both Scott Heard and Liam Friend in Steve Lovell’s squad. 

Having been relegated from the Isthmian Premier Division last summer, Herne Bay missed out on the South East Division playoffs last season, finishing 8th. 

The Venue

The Crest Stadium is situated in the centre of Herne Bay, just a 12 minute walk from Herne Bay Stations and a 15 minute walk from the beach. 

The 3G pitch, laid in the summer of 2022, has covered standing at either end as well as a covered seated stand on the south side that holds 200 spectators. 

The stadium also has a newly refurbished bar that screens live sports, for those that want to keep up to date with the cricket or golf on Saturday. 

Travel

Always check rail times/strike action before you travel. 

Trains to Herne Bay depart Folkestone every hour, roughly on the hour, taking approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Either head round the coast, changing at Ramsgate, or shave a few minutes off your journey by changing at Dover then Faversham. Herne Bay Station is a 12 minute walk from The Crest Stadium. 

Admission