Invicta finished up pre-season with a goalless draw away to National League South side Tonbridge Angels, with goalkeeper Jonny Henly saving a second penalty in a week on his return to his former club.
Defences were one top for most of the afternoon, Tonbridge limited to long shots in the 9th and 20th minute, before a first real chance of the match came in the 24th minute with a backpost header from a corner that was sent over the crossbar.
Invicta responded with their first real attack a minute later, a long ball headed back into Dan Smith by a Tonbridge defender, allowing Invicta’s front 4 to spring forward, Smith finding Kouassi on the right who cut inside and fired into the side netting from an angle.
Both sides created their next half chance on the half hour mark: Tonbridge heading harmlessly wide from a free kick, Invicta then breaking from the goal kick, Smith linking with Kouassi and Eze Ebuzoeme who delivered the ball into the box behind Smith who was unable to turn it on goal.
Tonbridge were handed the best chance of the afternoon after 37 minutes, awarded a penalty after a clumsy coming together in the box. Having gone down to his left to deny Bruno Andrade on Tuesday evening, Henly went to his right this time, pushing away the effort from Trevan Robinson before the rebound was headed wide.
⛔️ Jonny was at it again on Saturday. #fifc | 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/nRZeHCP6x8
— Folkestone Invicta (@FIFC) August 5, 2024
With Henly having been forced into his first save, Invicta responded in kind with Dan Smith hitting a low effort from outside the area that looked set for the bottom corner but for a good stop from the Tonbridge goalkeeper.
The hosts had the final effort of the first half, firing an effort through a crowd of players and wide of the far post from inside the penalty area.
It took 18 minutes after the break for Tonbridge to create the first opening of the second half, but with Marvel Ekpiteta closing down the shot it was dragged wide of the near post.
As was the seeming pattern of the afternoon, Invicta followed up straight away, with substitute Matt Young finding Dan Smith on the edge of the box who fired wide on his left foot.
Second half changes left the game disjointed for much of the second period, Tonbridge taking until the 79th minute to fire wide from a tight angle.
The final effort of the afternoon, Tonbridge’s right winger cutting inside and firing a left footed effort that took a huge deflection and sailed out for a goal kick.
Manager Andy Drury was pleased with his side after the game which he said had an “end of pre-season feel” to it with both sides looking to avoid injuries, while he was happy to have the friendlies out of the way and to now be able to focus on the real task, starting with the visit of Carshalton Athletic on Saturday.
