Folkestone Invicta U19 continued to defy the odds as they overcome older opposition for the 3rd time this season to reach the final 4 of the Kent Intermediate Cup for the 3rd consecutive season.

Paul Stanton’s side consisted of players from our Kent Youth League U18 side and Folkestone Invicta Academy, with Brad Walledge taking the captain’s armband.

Invicta started brightly, Ifaz Abed seeing an effort saved inside 3 minutes before Brad Walledge raced through and fired over.

A lively start continued as Sam Grant was called into action a for his first save of the evening after 8 minutes to deny the visitors.

Brad Walledge cut inside on his right foot in the 10th minute only to see a defender get a head to his shot on target. Invicta worked the corner well but couldn’t get a shot off, the visitors countering quickly and dangerously but a block denied them the opener.

Cody Stanton and Abed linked well to set up a shooting opportunity for Walledge just after the quarter of an hour mark, but the captain struck his effort over the crossbar.

Just beyond the halfway point of the first half Invicta were awarded a penalty kick after a foul on Abed. Walledge stepped up but saw his effort saved well by Whitstable keeper Finley Lumpkin. From the first of 3 resulting corners, Jacob Warman saw an effort cleared off the line at the back post.

Ifaz Abed jinked inside to strike an effort off the base of the post with 10 minutes to go until the break. Moments later he had the referee pointing to the spot for a 2nd time as he was bundled over by a defender. This time Cody Stanton stepped up to fire the kick into the top corner and give Invicta a deserved lead.

70’| The moment that separates the sides so far: Cody Stanton’s 37th minute penalty

FIFC 1-0 WTFC pic.twitter.com/5tnv6Mzg37

— Folkestone Invicta (@FIFC) January 14, 2025

Abed continued to be the thorn in the Whitstable side, seeing another shot blocked for himself before creating a chance for a teammate that met the same fate before he fired the rebound wide.

The visitors gave Invicta a warning shortly before the break with an effort from the tight angle that cannoned off the inside of the far post but somehow stayed out. It was Invicta applying the late pressure though, with the referee calling an end to the first half just a Walledge let fly from distance but thankfully for the officials the keeper made a good save.

The visitors made a good start to the second half, Grant forced into a good save down to his left inside 3 minutes. Whitstable continued in the ascendancy as they looked for a way back into the tie, but Invicta remained a threat on the counter attack. Brad Walledge was left in acres of space inside the penalty area on the hour mark as he rose high but failed to hit the target with his header.

The visitors forced Grant into action with 20 minutes remaining, a free kick from wide driven in low to the front post but dealt with well.

As Invicta looked to extend their advantage, a Jayden Nye corner ended with Sam Gurung forcing a save before Nye himself was on the end of a Stanton corner but his looping header was taken comfortably.

Invicta finally got breathing space with 7 minutes remaining after Lucas Dent was fouled on the edge of the penalty area. Stanton, Walledge and Abed stood over the free kick, the latter firing a left footed effort that went through the 5-man wall and beat the goalkeeper.

🚀 Tonight’s winning goal: Ifaz Abed 👌🏻#fifc | 🟠⚫️ pic.twitter.com/fbsAbIohhq

— Folkestone Invicta (@FIFC) January 14, 2025

Grant was forced into another good save at his near post as the visitors threw everything at Invicta in search of a route back into the tie. Eventually, with the final kick of the evening in the 99th minute, Grant was beaten after a shot from Louis Cussen came back off the crossbar for Tom Ansell to finish.

Invicta join Erith Town U23 in the semi-final draw, with Stansfeld U23 v Bearsted U23 and Faversham Town U23 v Margate U23 to be played this week to complete the lineup. The semi-finals are due to be played in February with the final scheduled for Wednesday 7th May at Chatham Town’s Bauvill Stadium.