Invicta welcome Wingate & Finchley to the Alcaline Stadium for our final fixture of 2024.

Andy Drury’s side recovered from 4 consecutive defeats with a point at Lewes on Boxing Day.

Saturday’s match is the first of 2 fixtures over the Christmas period that we are offering half price admission, with prices also reduced for the visit of Hastings United on New Year’s Day. You can purchase tickets for both fixtures here.

Team News

After our Boxing Day trip to Lewes, manager Andy Drury will be hoping his players have recovered well heading into a 2nd game in 48 hours.

Sam Blackman will be unavailable with the injury he picked up against Dartford but Conor Kelly has provided midfield reinforcement this week, making his debut against Lewes.

Evans Kouassi has also returned to the squad following his month-long loan at Bowers & Pitsea.

From The Manager

Andy Drury spoke to our Head of Media ahead of the weekend: “The lads responded superbly on Boxing Day after a tough run of results. It’s been difficult juggling the squad over the past few weeks, with players unavailable and others having to push themselves through the pain barrier for the team, but on Boxing Day we had a squad much nearer to full strength and that showed in the performance if not quite in the result. Having players the quality of [Dan] Smithy and [Jack] Jebby missing would hurt any team at this level and it is huge to have them back available for this busy and crucial period of fixtures. Having another game coming so quickly isn’t ideal but we should have a strong squad to select from on Saturday.

I want to thank the fans who made the long trip to Lewes. It’s a huge ask for supporters to make such a long journey on Boxing Day and their support is hugely appreciated by both the players and staff who are working hard to give them the results their support deserves. Hopefully we will see big crowds at home for the 2 games over the Christmas period and send them home happy with positive results.

Wingate & Finchley will provide a tough test on Saturday. They haven’t been in the best run of form but we saw last season what a strong side they can be as they reached the playoffs. They have already beaten Hendon, Dartford and Dover on the road this season so we will need to be at our very best.”

The Opposition

Wingate & Finchley defied all expectations last season, finishing 4th to reach the Isthmian Premier Division playoffs, losing 1-0 to Enfield Town in the semi-final. Loss of key players such as Ruben Carvalho, Elliot Long and Anointed Chukwu appeared to have taken its toll on Ahmet Rifat’s side as they sat 16th after 7 games, but a change in results saw them lifted up to a high of 2nd. No win in 7 league games has seen them drop to 9th as we approach the new year, but with the Isthmian Premier Division remaining incredibly congested so far this season, the North Londoners are only a point off the playoffs.

Last 6

23/11 – Horsham (H) – Lost 1-0
30/11 – Hashtag United (A) – Lost 4-1
07/12 – Billericay Town (H) – Lost 1-0
14/12 – Cray Valley (A) – Lost 5-3
21/12 – Lewes (H) – Drew 2-2
26/12 – Cheshunt (H) – Lost 1-0

Recent Meetings

Invicta have won 7 of the last 9 meetings between the 2 clubs, Wingate’s last win coming a few weeks before the first COVID19 lockdown in February 2020. Invicta were on a 7 match winning run in the fixture before we drew 1-1 at Cheriton Road at the start of the year, Seidou Sanogo equalising for Invicta in the 2nd half.

When the sides met earlier this season in North London Invicta came from 3-1 down to level the scores at 3-3 before the game was abandoned late on after an injury to the Wingate goalkeeper, the result eventually being verified by the league and the points shared.

Last 6

22/01/22 – Invicta 1-0 Wingate
20/08/22 – Invicta 2-1 Wingate
07/01/23 – Wingate 0-2 Invicta
12/08/23 – Wingate 0-4 Dartford
06/01/24 – Invicta 1-1 Wingate
17/08/24 – Wingate 3-3 Invicta

Key Man

Forward Ogo Obi netted twice against Invicta when the sides met in August and now has 21 to his name, 43.75% of all Wingate’s goals o far this season. Nullifying the former Maidstone United man will be a huge task, but will be vital if Invicta want to keep a clean sheet.

Admission

Supporters can pay on the gate for this fixture or purchase online in advance from our online ticket shop.

• Adults (18-59): £12 £6
• Concession (60+, student, disabled, Blue Lights Card): £9 £4.50
• Young Adult (13-17): £6 £3
• 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 Sports Bar will be open showing all of the days live sport.

Stay with us after the match for live music from Ollie Mulkeen.

🎺 Stay with us tomorrow after @FIFC v @WinFinchleyFC for live music from Ollie Mulkeen#livemusic #folkestone pic.twitter.com/NDEa6Fkzbl

— The Dugout Sports Bar & Kitchen (@thedugoutCT19) December 27, 2024