Manager Jay Saunders may have been disappointed with his side’s performance on Monday evening, but the travelling supporters in black & amber departed in high spirits after witnessing a five-star performance – Invicta securing a first ever victory against The Millers and a first victory (in 90 minutes) at Parkside Stadium.

Invicta arrived still unbeaten in all competitions this season, having dumped Maidstone United out of the FA Cup on Friday evening to secure an away tie against Westfield or Horsham. Meanwhile, Brett Munyard’s Aveley side were seconds away from welcoming AFC Sudbury for a replay on Monday evening before a 96th minute winner secured their place in the 3rd qualifying round.

Jay Saunders made just the one change from Friday evening, with new addition Bivesh Gurung coming in to make his first start in place of Mikey Berry.

The evening was dry, but heavy winds blew across Parkside as Dean Rance kicked us off. Aveley quickly set about imposing themselves on the evening, applying pressure with balls into the Invicta penalty area, Ted Collins forced to tip a cross-shot over the crossbar in the fifth minute before Invicta survived a scramble in the penalty area from the resulting corner.

Collins was forced to tip away another wayward cross in the 18th minute. Aveley then took the corner to the edge of the penalty area when Jayden Robinson took a touch before unleashing an out-swinging effort into the far corner to give The Millers a deserved lead.

Invicta responded immediately by creating their first shooting opportunity of the evening, but defender Ben Mason’s left-footed strike failed to hit the target.

A collision between Joel-Michael Odeniran and Aveley’s Ollie Peters saw the Invicta defender pick up the first caution of the evening after both players had received treatment.

On the half hour mark, Liam Smith got his head on a Ben Mason throw to force Aveley goalkeeper Joe Wright into his first action of the evening, a tame catch at his near post.

Invicta finally looked to be building some attacking momentum as we entered the final 15 minutes of the first half. Ade Yusuff received a pass from Donell Thomas on the edge of the penalty area who twisted, turned and showed his strength to hold off three Aveley defenders before forcing a save from Wright. Invicta kept the pressure on after Aveley defended the corner, with Yusuff eventually finding a ball to Thomas in the penalty area, the midfielder then firing a vicious effort across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

Invicta found their equaliser with little over five minutes remaining before half time. Another Mason throw found Smith’s head at the front post, the defender jumping well to flick the ball high into the air, evading all blue shirts and Wright to drop inside the far post, levelling the score.

The dust had barely settled before Invicta struck again. Montel McKenzie won the ball with an interception on half-way. Yusuff then found Joe Pigott who clipped a pass over the Aveley defender for McKenzie, who controlled the ball and cut inside to finish into the bottom corner beyond Wright. Two goals in 154 seconds had spun the evening on its head.

Aveley came out flying after the break, Robinson fired wide from distance before top scorer Ollie Peters fired a great chance wide from the middle of the penalty area. Invicta responded with another long throw, the ball falling to Thomas who hooked it goal-bound but it was an easy save for Wright.

Collins was forced into a great save to deny a strike from the corner of the penalty area to maintain Invicta’s advantage which was extended just a minute later. Half time substitute Josh Strouts did well to hold off a defender before rolling the ball into the path of Donnell Thomas who raced into space and fired a low effort beyond Wright to register his fourth goal in as many games.

At the other end, Peters provided a chance for Alejandro Machado to respond immediately but his effort from the middle of the penalty area failed to hit the target and test Collins.

Captain Henshaw headed over from six yards out and Machado stung the palms of Collins from outside the penalty area as chances continued to fall for the hosts but again Invicta punished Aveley’s profligacy immediately. McKenzie found the run of Strouts with a ball down the left. The forward raced to the byline and cut the ball back to the edge of the six yard box where Pigott was unable to get a touch but Mason was waiting at the back post to take a touch and fire home Invicta’s fourth of the evening.

Aveley cut the deficit back to two with 15 minutes remaining from a corner which was allowed to bounce at the near post before being headed home from close range by Jayden Gipson.

Celebrations did not last long however, Invicta restoring the three-goal cushion just 70 seconds after the restart. With Aveley pushing high up the pitch, Mikey Berry found fellow substitute Jake Hutchinson with a long pass into the space behind, Hutchinson doing well to stay on his feet long enough with his shirt being pulled to finish beyond Wright.

Hutchinson went close to a second, this time a long pass from Smith bouncing nicely as the forward won the race to the ball with Wright, lifting it beyond the keeper but onto the top of the crossbar.

Invicta were forced to defend their penalty area for much of the remaining minutes, but did so without much danger before Berry fired narrowly wide at the other end in the final minute of six added on by the referee.

A seventh consecutive win for Invicta in all competitions, a fifth in the league, takes Jay Saunders’ side up to second in the Isthmian Premier Division behind early leaders Brentwood Town.

Invicta will look to extend the run of form on Saturday as we travel to Burgess Hill Town for their first home fixture of the season, having also installed a new 3G playing surface this summer. Seats are available on our supporters’ coach, click here to book yours now.