Matthias Fanimo and Luke Allen both found the net for the first time in Invicta colours on Saturday but it wasnt enough to prevent Andy Drury’s side returning empty handed from our first ever visit to Flamingo Park.

Invicta arrived at The Wands new home, opened last summer, on the back of defeats at Dulwich Hamlet and Hashtag United. Drury opted for 3 changes to his starting XI, with Dan Smith returning from injury, Jack Jebb from illness and Matthias Fanimo making his first start since Boxing Day. New signing Miquel Scarlett was named among the substitutes after joining Invicta earlier in the week.

Dan Smith headed wide from a Jack Jebb free kick inside the opening minute but it was the hosts who started brighter and got their rewards in the 10th minute. Winger Josh Williams cut inside from the right flank and delivered a cross that found forward Soul Kader unmarked to glance a header inside the far post.

Henly was tested by a low effort from Lateef Adaja and a high effort from Nyren Clunis in the minutes that followed before Invicta began to finally grow into the afternoon. Fanimo repaid his inclusion in the starting XI with his first Invicta goal in the 22nd minute. Jebb pounced on hesitation from 2 Wanderers players in possession to steal the ball inside their half, working a move with Smith that opened up space for Joe Turner to deliver a low cross from the left that found Fanimo coming in from the opposite wing, one touch to control the ball before passing it inside the near post for the equaliser.

Ian Gayle was the first name of the afternoon into the referee’s notebook after scything down Kader as he broke down the left wing.

As we crossed the half hour mark Invicta appeared to now be the side in the ascendancy, Invicta carving out a gilt-edged chance for Fanimo to add to his tally after Jebb played Luke Allen to the byline, his cutback finding Fanimo inside the 6 yard box but the winger couldn’t keep his first time effort under the crossbar.

With little over 5 minute remaining in the first half, the hosts were reduced to 10 men after captain Frankie Raymond beat Luke Allen to a 50-50 but followed through and caught the Invicta midfielder high on his left leg, leaving him needing treatment.

Half time came with Invicta applying pressure, but after the break it took the hosts just 5 minutes to defy their numerical disadvantage and retake the lead. A corner from Invicta’s left headed against the crossbar by Remi Sutton and dropped to the feet of Kader to fire home from close range.

Invicta’s hopes took a further hit on the hour mark, Williams cut inside from the right flank again but this time was allowed to shoot and produced a goal of the season contender that left Henly with no chance and doubled Wanderers’ lead.

Drury immediately introduced Ade Yusuff and Evans Kouassi to his attack and then Scarlett made his debut, replacing Marvel Ekpiteta with Gavin Hoyte moving into the centre of defence.

Invicta finally began to apply real pressure to Wanderers inside the final 10 minutes. Allen delivered a cross from the right onto the head of Yusuff, with Cray goalkeeper Shaun Rowley caught under it but the Invicta forward saw his effort strike the post before Rowley managed to scramble the ball away for a corner.

Allen eventually cut the deficit, matching Fanimo in scoring his first Invicta goal. A cross form the left created a scramble, Yusuff seeing a shot blocked which fell to Allen 8 yards out to drill a low effort into the net.

Allen’s strike came too little, too late however, Invicta managing to apply pressure but unable to test Rowley again. Turner struck a late effort over the crossbar from the edge of the ‘D’ just as the referee brought the afternoon to an end to see Invicta fall to a 3rd consecutive defeat on their travels.

Invicta will be thankful for the home comfort that awaits them this week, with back-to-back fixtures at the Alcaline Stadium as we host Chichester City on Tuesday evening and Potters Bar Town on Saturday.