Invicta’s first home fixtures of the summer ended in defeat as manager Andy Drury put trialists and a new formation to the test in front of an impressive pre-season crowd of 597 at the Alcaline Stadium.

With Tom Derry having suffered an injury to his eye on Saturday at Herne Bay, Dan Smith was partnered in attack by a trialist. Dean Rance and Sam Blackman were partnered in midfield by another trialist, with Chris Sessegnon and Frankie Morgan providing the width as fullback and a back 3 of Gavin Hoyte, Marvel Ekpiteta and Joel Odeniran in front of Jonny Henly.

Invicta would dominate the possession all evening but it was Deal who looked more incisive in the first half, breaking quickly into the final third on multiple occasions in the opening minutes of the match although unable to really test Henly.

It was Invicta who should have been in front after 15 minutes as a cross from the left was flicked on by Trialist 10 but Dan Smith was unable to connect to continue his excellent form in front of goal.

Both sides connoted to trade blows without testing the goalkeepers until the 28th minute, a long throw from Jack Paxman cleared but not properly dealt with by Invicta, eventually fired home by Macauley Murray.

Neither goal was threatened for another 10 minutes when Deal struck again. Invicta may well feel a free kick should have been given for a foul high on the right touchline, the crowd certainly did, but Deal broke quickly down the left, a ball to the back post turned back across goal for young forward Jamie Kennedy to tap in.

The visitors fired over from distance twice before the interval but didn’t test Henly again, taking a 2-0 lead into half time.

Andy Drury made 4 changes for the second half, changing the system in the process. Ian Gayle, Matt Young and a pair of trialists replacing Blackman, Sessegnon, Odeniran and a trialist.

One of the substitute trialists saw his evening cut short little over a minute after coming on, pulling up as he raced after the ball down the left wing, forcing the introduction of another trialist in his place.

The new introduction linked with Young and Morgan with the later delivering a pinpoint cross to the back post onto the head of the other trialist (17), his effort producing a superb save from the Deal goalkeeper.

A minute later Invicta did have the breakthrough, a Matt Young corner from the left met by Marvel Ekpiteta, his powerful header forcing a save but proving too much for the keeper this time and dropping over the line.

📺 Trialist was denied but a minute later @Marvz_E wouldn’t be #fifc | 🟠⚫️ pic.twitter.com/5zxIjGgptF

— Folkestone Invicta (@FIFC) July 25, 2024

On the hour trialist 12 forced a good save with a low drive from distance, the Deal keeper getting down well to his right to tip it around the post.

Invicta continued to control the ball as they looked for an equaliser but found real chances hard to come by. Trialist 17 the next to have an effort on gol in the 77th minute, a good move down the right ending with him shooting across the face of goal.

Ekpiteta, buoyed by his earlier goal perhaps, had Invicta’s final effort of the evening as he robbed the ball high up the pitch and unleashed a shot from distance but it struck a teammate and dropped harmlessly for Deal to collect.

Invicta were unable to find a way through a stubborn Deal defence late on to find an equaliser, but manager Andy Drury was happy post-match with the second half performance as he continues to work towards the first game of the season at home to Carshalton Athletic on 10th August.