After last weekend’s record FA Trophy win over Ascot United, Invicta turn their attentions back to Isthmian League action as we welcome Hashtag United to the Alcaline Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Invicta will be looking for a win that could potentially lift us to within touching distance of the playoffs.

Saturday is our final home fixture under our bonfire night derby clash with Dover Athletic, with a run of 4 away trips to Canvey Island, Barton Rovers, Horsham and Carshalton Athletic to come.

Hashtag’s visit last season drew our largest attendance of the season, a crowd of 1,138 on 30th December. A bumper crowd is expected again on Saturday so we advise supporters to purchase tickets online in advance and to arrive early to ensure a smooth entry into the Alcaline Stadium.

Team News

Forward Tom Derry is available to return to the squad following his 3-match suspension for his dismissal against Billericay Town last month.

On the injury front, Invicta will be without Chris Sessegnon who dislocated his shoulder during last weekend’s 8-1 win over Ascot United. Chris came on as a half time substitute to replace captain Ian Gayle but fell awkwardly and had to be replaced soon after.

Otherwise the squad has come through a week of training and manager Andy Drury will have a plethora of attacking options to select from, with Derry and Evans Kouassi looking to break their way into the front 3 that started last week’s trophy win, Kouassi coming off the bench to score twice late on.

From The Manager

Andy Drury spoke to our Head of Media on Friday ahead of the fixture – “We will be looking to build on last weekend’s display against Ascot United. It was a hugely positive performance and result that we want to use to catapult us into a run of results that will take us to where we want to be; up in the playoffs. Speaking after the defeat to Chichester I mentioned the number of chances we were creating but not taking and last weekend showed what we can do when we are clinical in front of goal.

Hashtag are going to be a good side, especially going forward. They play entertaining football and will be good going forward. Like us they have done a lot of recruitment in the summer and brought in a number of good players. I’d expect a very competitive game that will need us to be at our best to take 3 points from.

We had a crowd of over 1,000 when we hosted Hashtag here in December and we expect another big crowd on Saturday, especially with it being the international break. We want that level of support behind the team from the first whistle, it give the lads a huge boost out there and then it will be our job to send those fans home happy.”

The Opposition

Their second season competing in the Isthmian Premier Division, Hashtag United currently sit 16th after 8 games, 4 places below Invicta. After exiting the FA Cup away to National League South side Hornchurch, Hashtag progressed in the FA Trophy last weekend with a win over Hitchin Town.

You can find out more about our visitors in our new feature: Meet the Opposition.

Last 6

31/08 – Stotfold (H) – Won 2-0 (FA Cup)
07/09 – Hastings United (H) – Won 4-0
14/09 – Hornchurch (A) – Lost 2-1 (FA Cup)
21/09 – Cheshunt (A) – Won 4-3
01/10 – Carshalton Athletic (H) – Lost 1-0
05/10 – Hitchin Town (H) – Won 1-0 (FA Trophy)

Admission

Supporters can pay on the gate by cash or card or can purchase tickets online in advance. Supporters are advised to head to the designated turnstile(s) for their payment method in order to ensure easy enter to the stadium.

• Adults (18-59): £12
• Concession (60+, student, disabled, Blue Lights Card): £9
• Young Adult (13-17): £6
• Child (under 13): FREE

 

How To Follow

If you can make it to the match you can follow the action via our X (formerly Twitter) account. Alternatively, live score updates are available on Football Webpages.

Food & Drink

The Dugout Sports Bar will be open from 11:30am, with the Dugout Kitchen open for food. The Dugout accepts both cash & card.

Food and refreshments will also be available from the truck inside the stadium, located between The Dugout and the Folkestone Bowls Club building.

We have FOUR new fanzone bars around the ground serving draught beer, Guinness, water and soft drinks. 2 bars are adjacent to The Dugout, one beside the tea hut window and one beside the disability shelter. These bars are CARD ONLY.

The Dugout Sports Bar

The Dugout will be showing all the day’s sporting action on 13 screens.

• • 12:30 – Chesterfield v Notts County
  • 15:00 – EFL football on Sky Sports+
  • 18:00 – Super League Grand Final – Wigan v Hull KR
  • 20:30 – World Grand Prix Darts