Folkestone Invicta Women ended 2024 in the South East Counties Women’s Football League Kent Division 2 East with a 4-2 win over second placed Sellindge Ladies to leave them 9 points clear going into the Christmas break.

Invicta kicked off the afternoon at Sellindge Sports & Social Club as the rain and wind battered the players, Mark Janser’s side looking to avenge a 4-1 defeat at the Alcaline Stadium in September while Sellindge were looking for a win that would close the gap in the title race to 3 points with 2 games in hand.

Both sides were forced to battle the conditions as much as each other, leaving chances few and far between, Nyah Commons fired two efforts wide in the early minutes but it was the hosts who struck the first blow shortly before the quarter of an hour mark when Abbey Duff was found in space in the penalty area, turning to hit an effort that squirmed under Aaliyah Singh in the Invicta goal.

Rebekah Goodhand forced a simple save from distance while Sellindge offered a similar effort at the other end as the sides traded blows. Goodhand’s second effort of the afternoon proved more lucrative, the ball running to her after a challenge saw Commons lose possession, the winger taking a touch before firing the bouncing ball over the Sellindge keeper from 20 yards.

Sellindge almost responded immediately with another effort from distance that looped over Singh who breathed a sigh of relief as it came back off the crossbar. A few minutes later Sellindge raced through on goal after a defensive mistake, captain Izzy Janser recovering well to make a vital challenge to deny a clear shot on goal.

Commons went close again in the 36th minute, winning the ball just outside the Sellindge penalty area before curling her effort from over 20 yards just over the crossbar.

With the battle at the top of the league table incredibly tight, Invicta would likely have gone in happier at the break with the scores level.

On the hour mark, player of the match Nyah Commons struck to swing the battle in Invicta’s favour. A battle for the ball 25 yards from the Sellindge goal resulted in a defender kicking it from Hayley Turrell into the path of Commons, the winger cutting inside a defender and firing an effort low inside the near post.

It wouldn’t be a Sunday afternoon without top goalscorer Hayley Turrell on the scoresheet and she struck just inside the final 15 minutes to give Invicta breathing space. A throw on the right was worked to Gianna Moscato to deliver, 4 defenders failing to clear her cross before it fell to Turrell at the back post to finish first time.

Charley Kerry forced a save from distance as Invicta looked to inflict a reverse of the scoreline from the previous meeting between the sides but it was Turrell who got the 4th and her 2nd of the afternoon, Commons jinked inside a defender on the right wing before delivering a long diagonal ball behind the Sellindge defence, the goalkeeper coming to collect but only getting a touch to it leaving Hayley with an empty net to finish into.

Invicta were denied the 4-1 win late into stoppage time after Katie Philpott was judged to have fouled a Sellindge forward in the penalty area. Sadie Smith fired the spot kick high into the roof of the net.

The sides had played just short of 103 minutes when the afternoon was brought to an end, probably to the relief of most in attendance who quickly filed inside out of the weather.

The win leaves Invicta 9 points clear at the top of the SECWFL Kent Division 2 East over the Christmas break, on 24 points from 9 games, with Ramsgate and Sellindge Ladies both sat on 15 points, Sellindge having 2 games in hand. With 5 games remaining, Invicta return to league action on Sunday 26th January with a trip to Ramsgate. Our remaining fixtures include trips to Mersham and Hawkinge, while we will entertain Lydd Town and Baypoint Seconds at the Alcaline Stadium as the women look to push for the title and promotion.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported Folkestone Invicta Women so far in our inaugural season and we look forward to seeing you again when we return to action in January, kicking off the new year with home fixtures against Maidstone United Development and Hollands & Blair Reserves in the SECWFL Kent Divisional Cup.