Folkestone Invicta overcame a stubborn Wingate & Finchley side at the Alcaline Stadium to finish 2024 with a win that lifted Andy Drury’s side to 12th and within 4 points of the Isthmian Premier Division playoffs heading into the new year.

The manager made 3 changes from the side that picked up a point at Lewes 48 hours earlier, with Frankie Morgan, Conor Kelly and Evans Kouassi coming into the XI in place of Sam Smith, Amadou Kassaraté and Matthias Fanimo.

Kouassi repaid the decision to give him his first Invicta start since September by firing home the opening goal after just 43 seconds. Conor Kelly picked up the ball in midfield and fed the forward through the visitors’ defence, Kouassi creating enough space to get his shot off, firing low past Charlie Grainger in goal.

Invicta continued to pile on the early pressure, Kouassi was in on goal again in the 4th minute from a Joe Turner pass but failed to get enough on his effort but it was Dan Smith who had the best chance to double the lead, Conor Kelly again the architect but Grainger producing a superb save. Joe Turner fired over from distance a few moments later, while Wingate were forced to defence a number of corners as Invicta penned them inside their own half.

The visitors got out for the first time in the 14th minute and Invicta were punished for not making the early dominance count. A cutback from the byline turned home by Zack Newton to level the score. The goal knocked Invicta’s early momentum and seemed to give Wingate a boost, but the Invicta defence limited them to shots from distance.

Invicta began to assert their dominance again in the after the halfway point of the 1st half, but failed to get off shots to test Grainger, Dan Smith shooting wide from just outside the box the closest to restoring the lead. At the other end Henly’s goal remained relatively untroubled, Isthmian Premier Division joint top goalscorer Ogo Obi forcing a simple save from the edge of the box 5 minutes before the interval.

Hearts were in Invicta mouths in the final minute of the half when Newton raced through on goal, poking the ball beyond Henly before taking a tumble right on the edge of the penalty area but the referee pointed for a goal kick.

Just after half time Henly went down needing treatment after kicking a loose ball high upfield and taking a tumble. Unable to continue, academy goalkeeper Daniel Kennedy was called upon for his league debut, having previous featured against Phoenix Sports in the Kent Senior Cup.

Ian Gayle gave Wingate a warning of his ability in the air when he rose highest to meet a corner, the ball nearly squeezing through the legs of Grainger. Dan Smith fired over from a cutback on the hour mark before the visitors tested Kennedy for the first time, the young keeper saving an effort from a tight angle.

On 65 minutes Kouassi won Invicta a free kick in a dangerous area, Kassaraté replacing Kelly before it was taken to add height in the box, but it was Gayle who got on the end of Jebb’s delivery to glance a standing header inside the far post and add to the 2 headers he scored in the reverse fixture in August.

Jebb’s next set piece delivery just evaded Gayle by Grainger failed to take it cleanly and needed a defender to clear it off the goal-line.

Dan Smith forced a save with a low, drilled effort from distance as Invicta pushed for the comfort of a 2-goal lead but Invicta’s top scorer would turn provider with 5 minutes to go as Tom Derry struck our final goal of the year. Smith and Fanimo produced a good move in the middle of the pitch to work the ball wide to Turner who then found Smith inside the penalty area with a long diagonal pass. Smith nodded the ball back into the path of Derry who was afforded all the time he needed to sweep a perfectly placed effort inside of the post.

There was still time remaining for Wingate to make things tense, former Invicta defender Toby Byron firing a right footed effort from distance the Kennedy could only parry, Ben Ward-Cochrane the quickest to react to turn the ball home from close range.

Invicta’s defence held firm to secure the 3 points to end the year in front of a crowd of 1,175.

Joe Turner was selected as Man of the Match by our match sponsors Folkestone Invicta Supporters Club.

Next up for Invicta we welcome Hastings United to the Alcaline Stadium on New Year’s Day. Admission is also HALF PRICE for the fixture, you can purchase tickets online here.