Folkestone Invicta 1 Eastbourne Town 0
By David Pritchard
Brendon Cass made it two winning goals in two games since joining Folkestone Invicta as Neil Cugley's side stayed top of the Ryman South.
The Seasiders were rarely at their best against the division's bottom club, but Cass' close range effort two minutes into the second half proved decisive. It sealed a third successive 1-0 win for Invicta, their 12th of the campaign in all.
Due to a series of postponements, Invicta were playing their first game at home in six weeks. The Cheriton Road pitch was in excellent condition but the hosts were unable to take advantage in a poor first half.
James Everitt’s header over from a Darren Smith corner on 32 minutes was the closest they came to a breakthrough in an uninspiring opening. Eastbourne, 21 places and 36 points behind their opponents, held their own and grew as the half wore on. James Fraser had their two best efforts, seeing saw one well-struck effort parried by Jack Delo nine minutes before the break and shortly afterwards fired narrowly wide from 25 yards.
The interval did the Seasiders good and they came out a different side. After completely failing to test Pat Gannon in the first half it took them less than 30 seconds to stretch the goalkeeper, who tipped Josh Burchell’s low drive round the post.
A minute later Invicta took the lead. This time Gannon was at fault, dropping a corner which allowed Cass to tap in from close range.
The former Chatham striker laid on a good chance for strike partner James Everitt, who controlled his volley superbly only for Gannon to parry low to his left.
Eastbourne, bottom of the table having played more games than all of the sides around them, committed ever more bodies to the attack in search of a way back into the game. They finished with an unfamiliar 3-3-4 formation, but Invicta’s dependable defence held firm.
Folkestone are again at home on Saturday, when they take on mid-table Leatherhead.
Folkestone: Delo, Chappell, Friend, Dickson, Vincent, M Everitt, Smith, Spiller (Williams 66), Burchell, J Everitt, Cass
Unused subs: Dix, Dryden, Guiver, Phan Nguyen
Eastbourne: Gannon, A Davidson, L Davidson, Forman, Simmonds, Tuck (Mazetti 88), Storrie, Fraser, McDonald (Kimber 71), Francis (Baitup 81), Dicker
Unused subs: Holles, Purdy
POSTED: 09/03/2010 21:38:16
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: