Jay Saunders and his team were left wondering how they failed to score for the first time since April 2025 as playoff-chasing Aveley departed the Alcaline Stadium with all three points on Tuesday night, a 25-yard stunner from Ollie Peters proving to be enough for the visitors to inflict a second defeat in four days to the Isthmian Premier Division leaders.

With Invicta looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat to Chatham Town, Saunders was able to recall Adam Lovatt from illness to start in a midfield with Dean Rance, Mikey Berry and Josh Strouts making up four changes from the weekend. Ronnie Dolan and Ade Yusuff missed out with injuries while Jack Jebb and Joel-Michael Odeniran dropped to the bench.

Aveley kicked off the evening and won a dangerous free kick in the opening minute but George Saunders struck his effort into a two-man wall. Invicta began to impose themselves on the evening, although several balls into the penalty area – from corners, throws and open play – failed to find a black & amber shirt before momentum was broken by an injury to Ike Orji. Ted Collins also went down for treatment and Sam German was sent to the side of the pitch upon resumption of the action, forcing Invicta down to just nine men until German returned, followed by Montel McKenzie in place of Orji.

Invicta’s first real sight of goal came from a Mikey Berry corner on the 18 minute mark, Kevin Lokko rising highest at the front post to head wide. Jake Hutchinson freed Josh Strouts with a flick but the former failed to hit the target from a tight angle. Hutchinson then curled narrowly wide from just inside the penalty area before Liam Smith played in Strouts with a pass from the defence, the forward manning to round Aveley goalkeeper Joe Wright but struck his effort into the side netting.

Ted Collins had to be at his best to claw away an effort from Harry Haysom that was dipping just under his crossbar before Jayden Gipson headed a long ball from Matt Johnson narrowly wide of the post. Invicta hit back with Strouts on the counter on the left flank, his ball across the penalty area cleared into the path of Dean Rance who watched his first-time effort cleared off the goal-line by Ryan Henshaw.

Invicta were punished for their missed chances less than two minutes before the break, Ollie Peters finding enough space to fire a shot from 25 yards that struck the inside of Collins’ post on its way into the net.

A freezing cold evening threatened to boil over in first half injury time after Adam Lovatt was caught by a late tackle from Louis Reynolds that went unpunished, Hutchinson then catching Chris Harris as he cleared the ball downfield forcing the game to a halt. After deliberation between the officials, Invicta were awarded the initial foul. Mikey Berry delivered the set piece from deep, Invicta maintaining the pressure until German headed an effort over the crossbar, the final chance of the half.

Invicta began the second half on the front foot, a corner from Berry finding its way to the back post where Liam Smith thundered a left footed effort against the crossbar from seven yards. Ben Mason fired wide from the next corner kick, which was Mikey Berry’s last before being replaced by Jack Jebb in the 54th minute.

Lokko turned a Jebb corner goal-bound at the back post but saw it cleared off the line before heading wide a cross from McKenzie as frustrations began to grow all around the Alcaline Stadium. A rare venture forward from the hosts resulted in Gipson firing high over the crossbar.

Invicta continued to pile on pressure with corners and throws into the penalty area but could not find the final touch to beat Wright, Aveley hitting on the counter with Jayden Robinson forcing Collins into his first save of the second half in the 81st minute with an effort from distance and Ryan Charles forcing another from inside the penalty area just a minute later.

With time ticking away, Strouts and Hutchinson combined to play the latter into space on the left and deliver a low ball into the penalty area. McKenzie failed to get a touch before Jebb met it 10 yards out only for Wright to somehow produce an incredible reaction save to push it away for a corner.

We headed into injury time with Joel-Michael Odeniran on for Dean Rance, allowing a reshuffle that saw Lokko join the frontline but the young defender had intentions of scoring an equaliser himself. As he took aim from all of 40 yards the crowd of 912 held its breath, the ball beating Wright but thundering onto the crossbar before being headed behind for a corner as it dropped out of the night’s sky.

A cold, calm evening suddenly turned wet and windy as Invicta threw the dice one final time, Tommy Parkinson sent on for his debut in black & amber. The assistant manger was joined in the penalty area by Collins for the last of Invicta’s 18 corners, but Aveley held firm as Mason went down under a challenge from Henshaw and Hutchinson eventually fired wide with an acrobatic final kick of the evening.

Captain Kevin Lokko was selected as our Player of the Match by our sponsors The Invicta Meldrews. We would like to thank The Invicta Meldrews for their long continued support for the club.

Invicta head to Carshalton on Saturday looking for a first victory over the Robins since 2008 as we aim to return to winning ways. Supporters can book seats on our coach by clicking here.

After the trip to Carshalton, Invicta face three home fixtures in a row with Burgess Hill Town, Wingate & Finchley and Welling United all set to visit the Alcaline Stadium before the end of the month. Tickets for all three fixtures are available to purchase online.