Folkestone Invicta 2 Blues 0

The Blues play off hopes were hampered as they slipped to defeat against a strong Folkestone Invicta side who inflicted a League 'double' on the visitors. The Blues are now six points outside the play offs with five games remaining.

Manager Glen Driver made two changes to the line-up from last week’s draw at Thurrock, as Christy Finch and Darren Mills replaced Patrick Brothers and Dominic Docherty. In the first minute Folkestone centre forward Joe Taylor headed straight at Marcus Garnham from six yards as the hosts began on the front foot. Leiston were struggling to get a foothold in the game and the ever dangerous Ade Yusuff, the hosts leading scorer, forced Marcus Garnham to make a fine save in the 29th minute. On 40 minutes Kieron McCann cut inside and from just inside the penalty area his shot struck the Leiston bar. Both sides then had 'goals' disallowed before the Kent side broke the deadlock. There was just a minute of the half remaining and it looked as though Leiston would survive to half time but a lack in concentration allowed a corner to be played to Sam Hasler on the edge of the area, he was not closed down and he struck a right foot shot just inside the post to give Folkestone a deserved lead. The Folkestone midfielder was also on the scoresheet in the corresponding fixture last season.

Leiston started the second half in the same manner as they ended the first and on 47 minutes Ade Yusuff was allowed to turn in the area but his shot struck the bar and Marcus Garnham was able to grab the rebounding ball. It wasn’t until the 51st minute that Leiston created a clear chance when Byron Lawrence found Jake Reed who forced Roberts in the home goal to make a fine save. However just one minute later Folkestone increased their lead when the Leiston defence failed to clear the ball and Yusuff was on hand to stab the ball past the stricken Marcus Garnham. On 58 minutes Leiston made a triple substitution as Patrick Brothers, Joe Marsden and Dominic Docherty replaced the strangely subdued pair of Jack Ainsley and Chris Henderson, along with Darren Mills, who had received a yellow card in the first half. Leiston looked more competitive after these changes but still struggled to create any clear cut chances, but on 77 minutes a 25 yard strike from Patrick Brothers crashed against the Folkestone crossbar with the follow up finding the net but the Assistant's flag was raised for offside. Try as they might the Blues were unable to get any joy from a strong home side, suffering a first League defeat in nine games.

FT - Folkestone Invicta 2 Blues 0

Folkestone Invicta - Roberts, Vincent, Blanks, Dolan, Davies, Hasler (Ter Horst 70 mins), Draycott, Aboagye, Taylor (Everitt 69 mins), Yusuff (Newman 90 mins). McCann. Subs not used - Madden and Shaw.

Blues - Garnham, Hammond, Dunbar, Ainsley (Brothers 60 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Henderson (Docherty 59 mins), Reed, Finch, Mills (Marsden 59 mins). Sub not used - Garrard.

Man of the Match - Marcus Garnham

Attendance - 465