Blues 1 Folkestone Invicta 5

Leiston lost their second game in a week as they were put to the sword by Folkestone Invicta. Leiston kept the same side as Tuesday evening, with Lewis Bell and Adam Blades coming in for Armani Schaar and Toby Groom on the subs bench respectively.

Leiston were defending against the wind in the first period and their afternoon got off to a bad start. In the eighth minute, the visitors took the lead after a cross from the left flank was bundled into the net off the unfortunate Tom Bullard under pressure by Scott Heard. Joe Marsden shot just over for the hosts moments later after Seb Dunbar’s cross had evaded everyone in the box. Joshua Vincent headed wide from a corner for Folkestone as they tried to use the wind as an advantage. They doubled their lead when Chris Henderson’s poor back pass let in Ian Draycott who rounded Marcus Garnham and tapped into an empty net. Leiston worked an opening to Byron Lawrence but he fired over from just outside the area. In the 26th minute, Folkestone virtually wrapped up the points when after a free kick was awarded on the right hand side of the penalty area, Samuel Hasler smashed home a vicious strike into the net. Leiston were stunned. Matt Blake won a tackle and went on to fire another Leiston shot off target before away goalkeeper Tim Roberts punched away a Joe Marsden corner. Samuel Hasler struck a free kick well over the bar but the away team were be handed another oppurtunity to score shortly later. Joe Marsden was adjudged to have fouled just inside the penalty area leaving Adam Yusuff to place the spot kick into Marcus Garnham’s bottom left hand corner.

Leiston pushed Jack Ainsley up front at the start of the second half and he nearly got on the end of a Seb Dunbar cross but his header flashed just wide. Matt Blake had a fantastic chance to pull a goal back after another good move from Leiston but he shot straight at Tim Roberts with the ball looping up and over the bar for a corner. Moments later Byron Lawrence’s delivery from the right hand side saw Matt Blake head just wide. Matt Blake finally opened Leiston’s account for the afternoon when a neat flick from Byron Lawrence in midfield over the Folkestone defence set the Blues striker racing clear and he finished well under Tim Roberts. However, Folkestone added a fifth goal when after Marcus Garnham had made a good save from Ian Draycott, Tom Bullard was adjudged to have handled the follow up and despite the Assistant indicating a corner, following a discussion with the Referee another penalty was awarded. Once again, the lively Adam Yusuff stepped up to net, this time high to Marcus Garnham’s left hand side. The final few minutes were relatively low key as Folkestone saw out the match.

FT - Blues 1 Folkestone Invicta 5 

Blues - Garnham, Marsden (Pelling 70 mins), Dunbar, Ainsley, Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Henderson (Blades 25 mins), Blake, Brothers, Docherty (Eagle 52 mins). Subs not used - Bell and Beckwith. 

Folkestone Invicta - Roberts, Vincent, Blanks, Everitt, Davies, Newman, Hasler (Madden 90 mins), Heard, Draycott, Yusuff (Sahadow 90 mins), Wright (Cooper 76 mins). Sub not used - Shaw.

Man of the Match - Patrick Brothers

Attendance - 321