Folkestone Invicta 1 - 0 Billericay Town

FOLKESTONE Invicta made it three 1-0 wins in eight days as a 71st minute goal from Simon Glover gave Neil Cugley’s side a hard-fought win over Billericay Town at the Buzzlines Stadium on Monday night.

Glover scored the all-important goal with a great finish when he chested the ball down and fired into the net after a Stuart Myall throw from the left hand side.

The goal meant that Invicta continued their revival after a slow start to the season against a Billericay side which had not previously lost away from home this season.

Invicta went into the game with an unchanged starting line-up in a game re-arranged after being abandoned due to floodlight failure back in August. There had been no goals that night and the first half here was equally tight.

Billericay had the early half chances - Ross Wareham shot wide after eight minutes and Leon Hunter fired over from 25 yards after 10 minutes.

Invicta had to wait until the 41st minute for their first real chance of the game as Billericay goalkeeper Dale Brightly did well to keep out James Dryden’s diving header when Myall played the ball in from the right. Dryden then set himself up well but shot over three minutes later.

There were to be more chances after the interval as a Micheal Everitt shot looped at goalkeeper Brightly at one end after 48 minutes and striker Nathan Elder headed just over for Billericay at the other following a cross from the left after 55 minutes.

Billericay full-back Matt Game put the ball past his own post after 56 minutes and Guest headed over Myall’s corner from the left.

Invicta were desperately unlucky on the hour when Dryden headed against the post after Guest had headed on a Paul Lamb free kick.

James Everitt cleared from Billericay captain Jamie Dormer in the Invicta box after 67 minutes and Glover’s goal three minutes later broke the deadlock.

Billericay responded in positive fashion as substitute Neil Cousins didn’t get enough power on his header when Dormer played the ball in from the left after 76 minutes and Guest cleared for a corner when Adam Parker threaded a good ball through to Cousins a minute later.

Elder showed good strength to take the ball on and fire a low shot at Tony Kessell after 78 minutes and Hunter shot over from distance as Billericay pressed for an equaliser after 80 minutes.

But the visitors were reduced to 10 men after 82 minutes when Cousins received a straight red card for a slap on Invicta defender Steve Norman.

But Invicta were able to celebrate their first home league win of the season in Paul Parker’s first home match as assistant manager.

Folkestone: Kessell, J. Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, M. Everitt, Myall, Dryden, Glover (Neilson 87), Norman.
Subs Not Used: Sly, Watson, Rainbow, Mann.