Folkestone Invicta beat Billericay Town in the Isthmian Premier Division but are held at home by lowly Haringey Borough on Tuesday night
Published: 13:00, 15 November 2023
Updated: 13:06, 15 November 2023
Folkestone Invicta’s weekend win against promotion-chasing Billericay Town showed what they’re capable of – but they were pegged back again on Tuesday.
Recent signing Luke Holness continued his impressive start to life in black and amber with a late winner against a Billericay team who started last weekend sitting second in the Isthmian Premier table.
Invicta went into that game with three straight away defeats behind them, having been hamstrung with a catalogue of injuries, but with more players back at the weekend joint-manager Micheal Everitt was pleased to see them beating one of the best outfits in the league.
Everitt, speaking after the weekend win, said: “It was a terrific result against a team who I would say are going to be number one or two in the league this season.
“We knew they were coming into it with a bit of form and we had been injury-ravaged. It showed the importance of having some of our injured players back, because we played a level that we would expect and ultimately we got a deserved three points.
“We had done a lot of work during the week on the importance of the game, we knew they were a very good side, but we implemented a game plan and the players have to take credit because they stuck to it.
“There was a lot of hard work that went into preparing for the game and, thank goodness, we got the three points.”
They were hoping to build on that win when they entertained lowly Haringey Borough last night (Tuesday), picking up a point in a 1-1 draw.
There were still some players carrying knocks and others who came off at the weekend needing treatment ahead of their midweek match. Dave Smith and Ian Gayle were both named on the bench to play Haringey.
Everitt said: “It shows we’re not far away and if we can get a couple of bodies back that will make us even stronger.
“A week ago we had 11 fit senior players and one was carrying a knock. We were struggling, even this week we have had to wrap a few in cotton wool and there was a lot of analysis done to try and get them through the week.
“Those injuries don’t help with our form, which has been inconsistent.
“We are a new side from last season. We gave Hornchurch a really good game and were disappointed to come away with nothing (losing 4-2 after leading the match 2-1 with 15 minutes to go).
“We knew that Billerciay would be equally as tough and we managed to get three points. It was a terrific performance, everyone played their part and it is something we need to build on.”
Tuesday’s match kicked off at 8.15pm due to traffic congestion and the first half passed by without too much action. Ibrahim Olutade put Invicta ahead shortly after the restart but Haringey levelled midway through the half. It finished 1-1.
Invicta travel to 16th-placed Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday and Everitt said: “We know that if we’re not on it, then we will lose.”
Weekend matchwinner Holness, who joined in early October, took his goal tally to four at the weekend.
“He is a terrific player,” Everitt said. “He has a great attitude as well.
“We brought in Chris Regis and we brought in Toby Byron, the left-back, who I thought had another excellent game.
“We are building something, it takes time. We are a brand new team.
“Maybe that is the reason we have been inconsistent, but ultimately we haven’t picked up enough points to be where we want to be.”
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Luke Cawdell