Folkestone Invicta bounced back from Saturday’s controversial defeat to Cray Valley with a 2-1 win over Hastings United at Pilot Field, with midfielder Amadou Kassaraté finding redemption with the opening goal following debut dismissal.

Having played for nearly the entire second half with 9 men just 48 hours earlier, Andy Drury’s side made the short trip to the Sussex coast looking for a response against a side that had defeated Invicta on three occasions last season. The manager made just one change to his starting XI, with Kassaraté and Rance available, it was just Marvel Ekpiteta who dropped out of the defence for Peter Ojemen.

It took just over a minute for Hastings to strike when the sides last met on Easter Monday but it was Invicta who found the early breakthrough this time. Evans Kouassi won the ball high up the pitch and fed Tom Derry who saw his shot blocked for a corner. Eze Ebuzoeme’s first delivery was headed behind but his second was cleared as far as Kassaraté who volleyed first time through the crowd of players and beyond goalkeeper Louis Rogers to give Invicta an 8th minute lead.

Invicta were nearly 2-0 up just over 10 minutes later, as Dan Smith & Dean Rance worked Gavin Hoyte into space on the right, the fullback cutting a cross back towards the penalty spot where Derry met it first time but his effort thundered against the post.

Hastings were probing without any real threat on Henly’s goal but it was Invicta who found the next big opening, Kassaraté winning the ball in the Hastings half, Derry holding it up on the edge of the box before finding Kouassi who shot wide off his left foot from 18 yards.

Andy Drury will have been disappointed to have seen his side only go in 1-0 up at the break, but Invicta would start the second half quicker than the first. Again the goal coming indirectly from a corner, with Ebuzoeme’s delivery finding Derry at the back post but his header cleared off the line. Invicta didn’t let the opposition out and Kassaraté returned the ball to the back post, with Hastings defenders leaving red & white shirts in acres of space, it was Ebuzoeme who fired back across goal where Dan Smith turned the ball home from close range.

Despite Invicta’s dominant performance for the first hour, the game was far from over, especially with legs beginning to tire following Saturday’s performance. Just after the hour mark Hastings were given a route back into the game as substitute Freddie Legg went down in the box. Davide Roadari stepped up to take the penalty, Jonny Henly going the right way but unable to deny the forward his 6th goal in 4 games against Invicta in 9 months.

A few minutes later Hastings squandered a great chance to level as Tommie Fagg pulled a ball across the face of goal but found nobody, the ball came back into the box for Legg to try and audacious overhead kick that dropped wide of the far post.

Hastings wanted another penalty shortly after but the referee waived away appeals after Billy Vigar went to ground while battling with Peter Ojemen.

Just inside the final 20 minutes Invicta carved out their best chance to kill off the game, Dan Smith bringing down a long free kick on the edge of the box, laying the ball to Ebuzoeme who returned it for a give and go between the pair that put the midfielder into space inside the penalty area but he fired narrowly over.

Vigar had Hastings next change to snatch an equaliser as he brought a pass down and cut inside onto his left foot but pulled his shot wide of the near post.

The officials were put to the test with 15 minutes to go as Dan Smith was brought down by Hastings defender Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite as he chased onto a long ball from Ebuzoeme. The referee blew for a foul and may well have been about to go into his pocket for a red card but the flag was up and after a brief discussion the offside was given.

The bank holiday Monday heat won’t have helped Invicta’s tiring legs and the manager made the most of his bench in the closing stages. Ellis Brown had replaced Evans Kouassi before Hastings’ penalty was taken, while Frankie Morgan, Matt Young, Chriss Sessegnon and Josh Chambers were all called into action in the final 13 minutes (plus 7 added time) to try and ensure we departed with all 3 points.

In the end Invicta saw out added time with no more scares, a first win in 6 meetings with Hastings over the past 2 years that leaves Andy Drury’s side in 10th place in the Isthmian Premier Division with a game in hand.

3️⃣ points in the bag. Hope you enjoyed your bank holiday Monday, Seasiders #fifc | 🟠⚫️ pic.twitter.com/oWCbsK0Wp7

— Folkestone Invicta (@FIFC) August 26, 2024

Next up we take a break from league action as we head to Ramsgate on Saturday 31st August in the Emirates FA Cup.