Folkestone Invicta brought the curtain down on the season at the Alcaline Stadium, marking the final game on grass after almost 100 years of football at Cheriton Road with a win against the visitors from Sussex.

Jay Saunders was pitting his wits against Craig Nelson who is due to succeed him as Tonbridge Angels manager at the end of the current season.

Invicta made 3 changes from our Good Friday defeat at Billericay Town, with Nathan Green, Ade Yusuff and Miquel Scarlett all dropping to the bench and Joel-Michael Odeniran, Dan Smith and Matthias Fanimo coming into the XI.

Invicta were quick out of the blocks, Dan Smith feeding Evans Kouassi who forced a good save from Toby Bull with a low effort from a tight angle inside the first minute.

It was the visitors who struck first, Shae Hutchinson diving to the byline to thread a ball across the face of goal, Marcus Sablier tapping home from inches out.

It took Invicta just 36 seconds from kick off to restore parity at the other end. Joe Turner worked the ball wide to Fanimo on the right, the wingback finding a ball into space behind Lewes left back Peter Ojemen for Evans Kouassi who pulled it back from a tight angle, only for the outstretched leg of Hamilton Antonio to turn it inside the far post, and through a hole in the netting! Thankfully there were no “ghost goal” shenanigans, Andy Morris on hand to fix the issue as he was serenaded by the crowd in the stand behind the goal.

Having returned from injury to start in Invicta’s back 3, Odeniran was unfortunately forced off after just 25 minutes to be replaced by Nathan Green.

Just a few moments after the change Invicta struck to take the lead. Turner laid the ball in behind Ojemen for Brad Walledge, the young midfielder turning the Lewes fullback before poking to ball back into the path of Turner to fire home from 10 yards out.

Matthias Fanimo saw a shot from distance comfortably saved while Amadou Kassaraté headed wide from 6 yards, Invicta’s best chance to extend the lead before we headed in for half time with a 2-1 advantage.

At half time the players from Folkestone Invicta Women took to the pitch for a lap of honour, having secured the SECWFL Kent Division 2 East title in their inaugural season. The girls are currently preparing for the Kent Divisional Cup Final against Lydd Town at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Thursday 15th May.

The second half brought that “end of season” feel with it until Invicta managed to reassert themselves midway thorugh the half. Turner and Kouassi both saw shots blocked before a deep cross from Turner to the back post evaded Bull to find Dan Smith who was unable to get a decent purchase to turn it goal bound. Substitute Ade Yusuff twisted his fullback to get to the byline, his cutback ending up at the feet of Kassaraté who took aim from range but failed to hit the target.

Invicta had the ball in the net from a corner with about 15 minutes remaining, but long after the whistle had gone for a foul somewhere in the penalty area.

Bobby Unwin came closest to stealing a point for the visitors with a left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty area that narrowly missed the top corner. Invicta then went close to a third at the other end, substitute Miquel Scarlett with what looked like a cross from the right that nearly snuck inside Bull’s near post.

A big goal kick from Jonny Henly was the final ever kick on the grass pitch at Cheriton Road as the referee brought the afternoon to a close, sealing a first win for Jay Saunders and his management team.

Following the action on the pitch we held out End of Season Awards Presentation in The Dugout Sports Bar both both our senior men’s and women’s teams. Keep an eye our for more info on our winners.

The match was sponsored by the Invicta Meldrews, who raised £575.60 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and the British Heart Foundation. Evans Kouassi was selected as Man of the Match.

Invicta now set our sights on Saturday’s trip to Cray Valley PM who have secured a 4th place finish and will visit whichever side finishes third on the following Wednesday in the playoff semi-finals.

We wish to thank all those who attended Easter Monday, and all those who have attended the Alcaline Stadium this season. An average attendance of 937 in the Isthmian Premier Division and a total season’s attendance of 20,775 are the highest figures in the club’s history. We look forward to being able to welcome supporters back for the start of the new season in August.