Invicta will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday night’s defeat at Dulwich Hamlet as we travel to face Hashtag United.
As you might imagine, Sunday fixtures are rare for Invicta but we won’t our last Sunday fixture when we beat Cray Wanderers 1-0 last season.
A win for Invicta would take us level on points with Hashtag.
Please note that this fixture is on Sunday 16th February and that Hashtag now groundshare at Aveley’s Parkside Stadium, not last season’s venue at Bowers & Pitsea.
Folkestone Invicta Supporters Club is running travel for the fixture. More info can be found here.
Team News
Ade Yusuff will be a doubt for Invicta having been forced off with a knock in Tuesday night’s defeat to Dulwich Hamlet. Dan Smith remains unavailable following an operation last month.
Colours
Invicta will take to the pitch in our red & white away colours, with the hosts in blue & yellow.
From The Manager
Manager Andy Drury spoke ahead of the fixture: “Tuesday night was disappointing, it’s important we pick ourselves up and bounce back on Sunday. Both clubs are aiming to reach the playoffs, but time is running out to catch those above us and that makes this match hugely important for both teams. We will need a very good run-in to the end of the season and we believe we are capable of that but we have to go out and show it on the pitch.
Hashtag are a very good, attacking side who play good football and have a number of goal threats, a lot of good attacking players. We will need to be at our best defensively as a team and be clinical, ruthless in attack to get a first ever win against them.”
Previously
Invicta have only met Hashtag on 3 previous occasions, with 2 draws and a single win for Hashtag. Invicta travelled to Essex early last season for an August Bank holiday stalemate at Bowers & Pitsea’s Len Salmon Stadium.
You can view highlights from our 1-1 draw at the Alcaline Stadium earlier in the season on Invicta TV
Invicta have visited Parkside on 2 previous occasions. Our first visit came in 2019, shortly before the COVID19 pandemic, when we beat Basildon United on penalties in the Velocity Trophy. We also faced Hashtag’s landlords Aveley in March 2023, losing 2-1 with Ian Gayle scoring for Invicta.
Last 3
06/01/23 – Hashtag 0-0 Invicta
21/04/23 – Invicta 1-3 Hashtag
01/10/24 – Invicta 1-1 Hashtag
The Opposition
After finishing 13th in their debut season in the Isthmian Premier Division, Hashtag United have kicked on this season, currently amongst the pack of teams sat just below the playoff places. A run off 5 wins from 6 games after Christmas pushed The Tags up into 6th but just 1 win in the last 4 has seen Jay Devereux’s side stutter in pursuit of 5th spot.
Last 6
21/01 – Bognor Regis Town (H) – Won 4-2
25/01 – Carshalton Athletic (A) – Lost 1-0
28/01 – Chatham Town (H) – Lost 3-2 (Velocity Cup)
01/02 – Cheshunt (H) – Won 1-0
04/02 – Bognor Regis Town (A) – Drew 2-2
08/02 – Dartford (A) – Lost 2-0
The Manager
It’s not often you come across a club that has only had one manager in their entire history, but Jay Devereux is the only man to ever lead Hashtag United. Appointed in 2018 when The Tags entered the NLS at step 6, Jay has led the club to 3 promotions in that time. He also led them to last season’s Velocity Cup Final where they lost to Chatham Town at Aveley.
Key Man
Misha Djemaili is Hashtag United’s top scorer this season with 17 goals in 39 appearances. The 58 goals scored by Hashtag is the 2nd highest tally in the Isthmian Premier Division, so Djemaili won’t be the only attacking threat to keep an eye on, with wingers Sakaria Hassan and Josh Osude both chipping in to support forward Toby Aromolaran, with 42 goals between them this season in all competitions.
How To Follow
Charlie Prescott and Adrian Dawkes from Seasiders Radio will be there to bring you live radio commentary from Champion Hill.
You can also keep up to date with the action with updates from our X (formerly Twitter) account and live score updates are available on Football Webpages.
The Venue
Travel
Always check rail times/strike action before you travel.
C2C stations Ockendon and Rainham are the closest and most accessible to get to Parkside. Available to access from both Fenchurch Street/Liverpool Street and Southend Central.
Ockendon Station: The station is around 2.9 miles away from Parkside.
Rainham Station: The station is around 4 miles away – use the TFL 372 Buses that take around 15 minutes to get to St Pauls Close and into Aveley, followed by a ten minute walk either through the Village centre or down the Aveley Bypass.
Admission
Supporters can pay on the gate for this fixture. All U16s must be accompanied by an adult (maximum 3 U16s to 1 adult).
- Adult: £12
- Concessions: £7
- U12: £3
