A young Folkestone Invicta side refused to stick to the script on Tuesday evening as they took on a Welling United side under new management. A goal of the month contender from 16-year-old Oscar Weight threatened to take the Velocity Cup tie to penalties before two goals in the final 15 minutes secured Ryan Maxwell’s side a fourth round tie with Ramsgate.

Invicta made a full eleven changes to the side that started the FA Trophy tie against AFC Totton on Saturday, with five starters making their senior debut for the club. Harry Uttley, who made his debut at Burgess Hill in the FA Trophy, captained the side alongside fellow academy players Louis Brooks-Read, Harry Linford and Taj Oliva. The academy squad was bolstered by goalkeeper Isaac Ogunseri and 16-year-old Sonny Radbourne who has been training with the first team squad this season. The bench consisted of five more academy players who would go on to make their senior debuts throughout the night.

Invicta’s intent to spoil The Wings’ evening was made clear from the outset as winger Tunmise Akanni unleashed the first shot of the evening inside two minutes but narrowly missed the target.

There was little threat to either goal in the opening stages of the game as Welling’s much more experienced side struggled to unlock Invicta’s teenage back four. It took a stray pass from Invicta to allow the hosts to open the scoring as TQ Addy pounced to release Josh Redfearn who finished his chance past Ogunseri.

But if any of the 205 in attendance thought that would open floodgates they would be mistaken. Akanni caused Welling’s debutant goalkeeper Dion-Curtis Henry a scare with a dangerous ball across the face of goal while Addy fired tamely wide at the other end a few minutes later. An injury time free kick from 25 yards was sent over Ogunseri’s crossbar as Welling looked to increase their advantage, but Invicta trailed by just a single goal at the break and well in the tie.

Having already made a change, with captain Jack Paxman forced off midway through the first half, Maxwell opted for two more at half time while Invicta introduced Oscar Weight in place of Harry Linford who appeared to have picked up a knock, Weight joining his brother Teddy in making his senior debut on the night.

It took less than five minutes after the restart for Oscar to produce a moment of magic – that he will unlikely ever forget – to throw the cat amongst the pigeons. Ogunseri started a counter attack with a throw out to Taj Oliva who carried the ball and played a one-two with Akanni before finding Weight with a ball over the top of the Welling left-back. The 16-year-old cut inside onto his left foot and fired an effort into the far top corner of Henry’s net, sparking scenes on the Invicta bench while silencing the drummer at the other end.

The hosts, now tasked with breaking down Invicta once more to avoid an upset, continued to toil as they attacked downhill, not having a shot on goal until we entered the final 20 minutes of the tie. Invicta cleared a corner that was then fired over from 25 yards.

With Welling showing little sign of being able to find a way through, it was another error that proved to be Invicta’s undoing with 15 minutes remaining. A stray pass in the defensive third allowed Welling to pounce, Redfearn eventually getting off a shot through a crowd of sky blue bodies trying to block it, the ball finding its way into the bottom corner of Ogunseri’s net to restore their advantage.

As Invicta looked for a goal that would take the evening to penalties, Welling were gifted a third after Ogunseri got the ball caught under his feet, allowing Aaron Williams-Bushell to tap home from close range and kill off the tie.

Left-back George Clark came closest to adding a second for Invicta in injury time, a long free kick falling to him on the edge of the Welling penalty area but his dipping half-volley wouldn’t quite come down under the crossbar.

Despite defeat, Invicta’s young side will take plenty from the evening, both in experience and memories. Weight’s goal puts him fifth on our list of youngest senior goalscorers at 16 years and 224 days.

Invicta now turn attention to back-to-back away fixtures in the Isthmian Premier Division as we head to Cheshunt on Saturday and Wingate & Finchley on Tuesday 25th November. Supporters’ travel is available to book for both now.