The magic of the cup was in full flow in Chatham on Friday evening as a crowd of 1,235 witnessed the first tie of the weekend, Folkestone Invicta dispatching National League South opposition Maidstone United to secure a spot in Monday’s 3rd Qualifying Round draw.

Having already chalked up home league wins at Hartsdown Park and an FA Cup victory at Ashford’s Green Box Stadium, Invicta were looking looking to add another win at the Bauvill after last month’s league victory over Chatham to extend both our unbeaten start to the season and a five-match winning run in all competitions.

Jay Saunders opted for one enforced change to his side from that which beat Whitehawk in Margate six days earlier. With Maxx Manktelow’s loan from Ebbsfleet United coming to an end, Mikey Berry came into the midfield. Former Maidstone United midfielder Bivesh Gurung, who left the Stones in the summer, was a late signing heading into the tie and was included amongst the substitutes along with goalkeeper Isaac Ogunseri who is on a dual registration from SCEFL side Fisher.

Invicta, attacking the Academy end of the Bauvill in the first half, began on the front foot with a Donell Thomas effort deflected for a corner in the 2nd minute. Thomas took the corner short before delivering a dangerous ball across the face of goal, a return cross from Joel-Michael Odeniran sailing out for a goal kick.

Invicta kept up the pressure with a deep free kick from Thomas punched clear by goalkeeper Nathan Harness, before a series of blocks and clearances from the Maidstone defence.

Tempers threatened to flare after just five minutes when a battle for the ball between Ade Yusuff and Maidstone defender TJ Bramble saw the Maidstone defender collide with the perimeter fence. Referee Ben McDonald spoke to both captains, Kevin Lokko and Sam Corne, as he attempted to prevent the evening from boiling over early on.

Invicta worked a nice move in the ninth minute to force the first save of the evening, Ben Mason eventually laying the ball off to Mikey Berry who struck a low effort from outside the box that proved a comfortable stop for Harness.

The visitors created their first opening in the 12th minute with a front post head from a corner from the right but it failed to hit the target and test Ted Collins.

At the other end Invicta went closer, a corner from the left eventually falling nicely in the direction of Liam Smith who set himself before swinging a right boot through the bouncing ball to arrow an effort narrowly wide of the top corner. From the goal kick Invicta mounted another attack that saw Donell Thomas link with Ade Yusuff to send the latter through on goal, only to fire into the side netting.

Maidstone created another half chance as a cross from the left was nodded down to Riley Court who fired his effort over the crossbar. Collins’ goal kick cleared the Maidstone defence and looked destined to fall for Joe Pigott to shoot on goal before he was pulled to ground by Bramble. Chants came from the packed stand of Invicta fans behind the far goal for the defender to be dismissed but McDonald opted only for a yellow card. Pigott stepped up to take the free kick from all of 30 yards, forcing a good save from Harness.

The moment of brilliance that opened the scoring came less than 10 minutes before half time from Donell Thomas, who began Invicta’s attack by shifting the ball to Yusuff wide on the right flank. Invicta’s 10 kept the ball in play and drove at his fullback before squaring back inside to find the run of Thomas who produced a 360 degree spin to take it away from the nearest Maidstone defender and free him to fire under Harness to score his third goal in three consecutive appearances.

Invicta were forced to defend as Maidstone applied pressure in search of an equaliser before half time but Collins’ goal never came under serious threat. The players headed back down the tunnel to cheers and applause from the black and amber shirts in the stand housing the dressing rooms.

Jay Saunders has spoken more than once already this season about scoring key goals at key times, notably in our previous two fixtures with strikes just before the half time interval. You won’t find many better-timed goals this season than Invicta’s second, under a minute after the restart. Captain Lokko stepped up to head away a Maidstone clearance, his big header reaching Yusuff 15 yards inside the Maidstone half. The forward showed strength to hold off his defender and have a touch to take it away from him into space, before rolling his pass through the legs of Thomas and into strike partner Pigott who took one touch before returning it. Yusuff took the ball into the penalty area before turning sharply away from the two defenders in attendance and firing a low effort beyond an advancing Harness into the bottom corner. The stand behind the goal erupted, Yusuff sprinted to embrace assistant manager Tommy Parkinson, black and amber bodies piling in to embrace the forward. Having struck goals that saw off Gloucester City and Dulwich Hamlet in previous years, Yusuff adds Maidstone United to the list of FA Cup victims from higher divisions.

Maidstone responded with a pair of corners, the first scrambled away at the near post before the second was headed comfortably wide at the back post. Collins was called into his first save of the afternoon just beyond the hour mark as a free kick was headed gently into his hands from the edge of the penalty area.

Gurung was introduced as Invicta’s first substitute in the 64th minute, replacing Mikey Berry in midfield. Shortly after, Maidstone were appealing for a goal after a long throw caused Invicta problems, but Collins was judged to have kept the ball from crossing the goal-line by the assistant referee.

Maidstone worked a shooting opportunity for Bramble from a cleared corner but the defender fired over. A few minutes later another corner for the visitors had them screaming for a penalty after Sam Corne ducked his head in low and appeared to be caught by a boot. McDonald showed no interest in pointing to the spot and eventually booked Maidstone’s David Sesay for his protests.

Into the final 10 minutes both Invicta goalscorers departed, Yusuff replaced by Josh Strouts before Ronnie Dolan came on for Donell Thomas. Strouts worked himself an early shooting opportunity after good play with Montel McKenzie but his effort from distance was straight at Harness.

Invicta supporters were singing goodbyes to exiting Maidstone fans in the final minute of the 90 as Kevin Lokko was announced as the evening’s player of the match for his part in leading the defence to a clean sheet and Invicta to their impending victory.

It would have taken the most pessimistic of Invicta supporters to fear a collapse as five additional minutes were announced by the fourth official, and so it proved to pass as Ted Collins took one comfortable final save as the final action of the evening, the referee’s whistle sparking celebrations from those who had made the journey to Medway, a night that will live long in the memory for all supporters.

We await Monday’s 3rd Qualifying Round draw, with the next round scheduled to be played on Saturday 27th September, our Isthmian League home fixture with Lewes now set to be rearranged for a later date.

Kevin Lokko was presented with his Player of the Match award by our match sponsors Match Estates. We would like to thank Match Estates for their continued support of Folkestone Invicta Football Club.

Attention now turns to Monday night as Invicta return to league action with a trip to Aveley. Seats are available on our supporters’ coach and can be booked online here.