A 4th consecutive Isthmian Premier Division win for Invicta saw Andy Drury’s side move into the playoffs for the first time since the opening day of the 2023/24 season, an own goal shortly before half time enough to ensure all 3 points returned to Kent.

The manager made just a single enforced change to the lineup that beat Bognor Regis Town on Saturday, Sam Blackman replacing Matthias Fanimo as he had done during the previous fixture. Fanimo’s spot in the squad was taken by Tom Derry who returned having been unavailable for the win over Bognor.

Dean Rance kicked off the evening at the Fusion Aviation Community Stadium, opened just 5 years ago, with Invicta wearing our red & white away strip. The match began at a fast pace but it took until the 10 minute mark for either side to have a sight at goal, Reece Myles-Meekums cut in from the left after Gavin Hoyte felt he had been fouled, an initial effort from the edge of the penalty area pushed away by Jonny Henly before Ian Gayle blocked the follow up. Another effort from the opposite flank 5 minutes later proved an easy stop for Invicta’s no. 1.

Invicta’s opening effort of the night came from former Hornet Joe Turner. Hoyte clipped the ball through the legs of his opposing fullback before delivering a low ball through a crowded penalty area to find the left winger, his shot blocked and then cleared.

Turner then went even closer to finding the net on his return to Sussex, a ball from Dan Smith hooked over the top of the Horsham defence, Turner beaten to the initial header by his defender but the Invicta winger reacted quickest to strike the bouncing ball inches wide from the edge of the area.

Approaching the end of the 1st half both sides were forced into their first change of the evening, Ian Gayle was replaced by Joel-Michael Odeniran for Invicta while Horsham saw Daniel Ajakaiye limp off for Ola Ogunwamide to take his place.

The evening’s deciding moment came shortly after the Horsham change, Sam Blackman with a header at the near post that headed behind for a corner off a defender. The midfielder was then closest to Jebb’s in-swinging delivery as it dropped into the 6-yard box, ricocheting into the net off the leg of captain Jack Brivio. Blackman ran off celebrating and has tried to claim the goal as his own but Brivio has been accredited with an own goal.

Having lead 1-0 at half time in the fixture last season, Invicta were in familiar territory as the hosts kicked off the second half with rain now falling but thankfully not nearly as heavy as it had done on Saturday, although with a 3G surface underfoot. Within seconds Invicta’s hard work looked like it may be undone, with most of the ground left confused as to why the assistant referee had flagged for a penalty. Upon further inspection, a long ball down the right channel had come off the arm of Horsham’s Lucas Rodrigues to send it onto that of Joel Odeniran. Despite protests the decision stood and Ogunwamide placed the ball on the spot before firing his left footed effort over the top corner of Henly’s goal.

Invicta’s defence was holding firm as Horsham continued to try and pick the lock, while Ogunwamide was causing Morgan problems on the wing he was unable to create a shooting opportunity for his teammates. Midway through the second half Drury sent on Jamie Mascoll for Turner in order to help protect the left flank, before then bringing on Derry for Blackman for a slight reshuffle that saw Smith drop the the right and Kassaraté move into a move natural central position. Derry’s first action was to get his name in the book as he got a fist to a Jebb corner to turn it wide of the near post.

Into the final 10 minutes Kassaraté stung the palms of goalkeeper Lewis Carey with an effort from 25 yards before a Horsham free kick from deep was headed comfortably wide from the edge of the penalty area. A header at the back post from a corner inside the 5 minutes of added time was Horsham’s final chance of the evening, Invicta heading away a free kick beyond the added time leaving the referee to blow up as Rance and Eze Ebuzoeme broke away.

👏🏻 Have a safe journey home, Seasiders. See you again on Saturday at Whitehawk 💪🏻#fifc | 🟠⚫️ pic.twitter.com/gSMbqejdf6

— Folkestone Invicta (@FIFC) November 26, 2024

The win, alongside 2 results elsewhere in Sussex, sees Invicta climb into 5th place in the Isthmian Premier Division ahead of another trip to Sussex on Saturday when we visit Whitehawk.

Highlights of the win are available courtesy of Your Instant Replay.