The Jay Saunders era at the Alcaline Stadium began with defeat to relegated Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday.

The new manager had no more than eleven to select from, with Brad Walledge afforded his first ever start for Invicta and only Dan Kennedy and Dean Rance available for the bench.

The teams were lead out by the family of the late Paul Sykes, with the match marking the 20th anniversary of his tragic passing. The family laid flowers behind the goal at the West End of the stadium before a minute’s silence.

Invicta started the afternoon brightly, Kouassi and Fanimo saw efforts blocked before Walledge worked himself space to force the first save of the afternoon from a tight angle.

Ade Yusuff battled with both central defenders to allow the ball to drop into the path of Joe Turner who drilled it low and just wide of the post before Matthias Fanimo headed wide from a cross when unmarked.

Yusuff went closest to unlocking the door, seeing an effort deflected wide before heading against the crossbar from the resulting corner.

With the half time break looming, it was the visitors who struck to punish Invicta’s profligacy. Luca Albon threaded a ball through the Invicta defence to find Max Fiddes in space inside the penalty area, the forward taking his time before firing high into the top corner.

As Invicta searched for an equaliser after half time, Yusuff headed a good chance straight at Bowers goalkeeper Joseph Witney, Walledge fired over a left-footed effort from distance while Fanimo volleyed over at the back post from a Kouassi cross. More names joined the list of missed chances as Ian Gayle roses highest to head wide from a Turner free kick and Amadou Kassaraté saw an effort blocked.

With 15 minutes remaining Turner fired wide again before Bowers killed the game in the 82nd minute. A long, low pass from Alfie Evans caught the Invicta defence cold and freed Fiddes who raced away before rounding Jonny Henly and firing home his second beyond Gayle on the goal-line.

Invicta were afforded 9 minutes of added time to find a way back into the match but failed to threaten the Bowers goal before the referee brought the afternoon to a close.

19 year old midfielder Brad Walledge was awarded Man of the Match by member of Paul Sykes’ family. Over £2000 was raised for Cardiac Risk

Next up for Invicta is a Good Friday trip to title-chasing Billericay Town before Lewes visit the Alcaline Stadium for our final home fixture of the season on Easter Monday.