Folkestone Invicta Women exited the Kent FA Women’s Plate after a 1st Round penalty shootout defeat to neighbours Hawkinge Town Ladies on Sunday afternoon.

With goalkeeper Aaliyah Singh unavailable, defender Katie Philpott stepped up to take the gloves for the afternoon, a role that she acquitted herself well in throughout the afternoon. Katie’s change of role gave Lydia Eades a chance to come into the XI in the centre of defence, while Maisie Edwards and Katelyn Luckett also made their first starts in place of Hayley Turrell and Nyah Commons.

After a first chance of the game inside 3 minutes was sent narrowly wide by Gianna Moscato, Invicta took control of the game early on with 3 goals in less than 4 minutes. In the 13th minutes Invicta struck first, a ball in behind the Hawkinge defence allowing Katelyn Luckett to run into space and square to Chloe Lloyd who finished low past the Hawkinge keeper.

Less than 2 minutes later and Lloyd was played in behind again, racing onto a ball from Maisie Edwards, being the onrushing goalkeeper to it and rounding her to roll the ball into an empty net.

Then dead on 16 minutes Invicta made it 3. Charley Kerry with a long ball in behind the Hawkinge defence, this time Katelyn Luckett on the end of it to poke it around the goalkeeper and finish from a tight angle.

But even at 3-0 up the game was far from over and Hawkinge struck back quickly, even if a little fortunately as a ball across the 6 yard box ricocheted first off a Hawkinge forward then into the net via a defender for an own goal. Just 2 minutes later they had a second, the Hawkinge forward holding off 2 defenders to bet them to a ball over the top and poking it into the bottom corner.

Invicta reacted quickly and nearly restored a 2-goal advantage immediately. A low ball to the front post found Lloyd who forced a save that was cleared as far as Crystal Hoveman who struck the post with her effort, Lloyd firing the rebound against the goalkeeper before the ball eventually found its was to Rebekah Goodhand who forced a save that the keeper held to end the chaos.

Hawkinge soon punished Invicta for the missed chances, working a move on the half hour mark that resulted in a shot from a tight angle the Philpott pushed onto the post, sending the ball along the goal-line to be tapped in to level the score.

Hayley Turrell, scorer of a hat-trick the previous week, went close to putting Invicta back in front shorty before half time, racing in behind to force 2 saves from a tight angle but the sides went in level.

Turrell and Luckett would prove to be Invicta’s biggest threats in a frustrating second half that saw the Hawkinge goal live a charmed life. Turrell rounded the keeper to fire into the side netting shortly after the restart before forcing a save just after the hour mark before Luckett forced saves on 72 and 74 minutes as Mark Janser’s side looked for a vital breakthrough to avoid a shootout.

Lloyd then came close to winning the tie with 2 chances at the death, first lifting a bouncing ball over the goalkeeper and narrowly over the crossbar before then trying to take a chance around the goalkeeper who got a touch to force Lloyd wide enough to prevent her finding the net.

We headed to penalties to decide the tie, Hayley Turrell seeing hers saved by the Hawkinge goalkeeper who then scored the first penalty for her side. Katelyn Luckett scored Invicta’s second to level the score before Hawkinge’s no. 13 struck the crossbar. Charley Kerry and Gianna Moscato both found the net, along with the Hawkinge no. 8 and no. 16 to take us to the final spot kicks, with the Hawkinge keeper (and captain) diving to her right to deny Invicta’s captain Izzy Janser, leaving Hawkinge no. 14 to score her penalty and send the hosts through to the next round.

Invicta’s players of the match where both goalscorers, with Chloe Lloyd selected by manager Mark Janser and Katelyn Luckett voted for by our opposition.

Many thanks to those supporters who made the trip to cheer on the girls. Next up for Invicta is a return to SECWFL action as we travel to Lydd Town Ladies on Sunday 22nd September (kick off: 2pm).