Manager Andy Drury was left impressed by his side’s performance after a competitive 90 minutes against National League South opposition that was settled by fine margins, with a defensive error at one end and a disallowed goal at the other proving to be the difference on the night.
Invicta started the evening with both Eze Ebuzoeme and Ellis Brown in the starting XI, having completed their singings on Monday, with the manager now beginning to see his side take shape ahead of the start of the Isthmian Premier Division season on Saturday 10th August.
Invicta kicked off the evening as the sun set over the ground, the match at a high tempo from the off with both sides denied shots on goal in the opening 6 minutes by the officials, Invicta by the offside flag and Maidstone with a foul.
The first real chance of the evening came shortly before the 15 minutes mark after Invicta keeper Jonny Henly was beaten to a short back pass by a Maidstone forward, conceding a penalty. Henly got down to his left to deny the spot kick with the rebound sent over the crossbar.
Evans Kouassi began to dazzle and went on a solo run that ended with him winning Invicta a corner in the 19th minute, the delivery from Ebuzoeme threatening to beat the Maidstone goalkeeper at his near post.
Henly was called into action again in the 29th minute after a solo run from the right lead to a cutback to the edge of the 6 yard box, the Invicta keeper down well to his right to keep out the effort. Invicta left back Frankie Morgan picked up a knock as he tried to prevent the run and was replaced afterwards by a trialist.
Maidstone found the evening’s decisive moment in the 39th minute as Shaq Coulthirst fed on another short backpass, this time finishing under Henly to give the visitors the lead.
Invicta responded and had the ball in the net a minute before the break. Maidstone’s keeper flapped at a corner from the left, pushing the ball into the path of Kouassi with his fingertips for the forward to smash in at close range as the whistle went for a foul, much to the bemusement of the crowd.
⛔️ Kouassi denied by the whistle https://t.co/AC7iSQ87u5 pic.twitter.com/EVpFmD1hBx
— Folkestone Invicta (@FIFC) July 30, 2024
Coulthirst had the first effort of the second half, firing over from distance.
Invicta grew into the lag before the hour mark with trialist 16 and Kouassi linking on the left. Maidstone dealt with a couple of balls into the box before Kouassi was able to cut inside and shoot over the bar.
Invicta’s best chance of the evening came a minute after the hour, winning the ball back in the middle of the pitch allowing substitute Dan Smith to feed Kouassi in between two defenders, the winger beat the onrushing keeper but his effort went agonisingly past the post.
A few minutes later a deep free kick from Young ended up at the feet of Smith, his low effort from the edge of the box well saved before the rebound was headed onto the crossbar by a defender.
On 73 minutes, after a period of pressure from Invicta, Kouassi delivered a cross from the left to the back post, Young turning a volley goal-bound but saw it saved by the goalkeeper.
Andy Drury began to use his full bench late on as Invicta pushed for an equaliser, but blocked efforts in the final 10 minutes from Smith and Young failed to test the visiting goalkeeper and Invicta were unable to take what would have been a deserved draw from the evening.
Invicta now look toward Saturday and a trip to Tonbridge Angels for our final pre-season fixture.
