Havant and Waterlooville 6Folkestone Invicta 2

A MAKESHIFT Folkestone Invicta side went down 6-2 in an open game at Havant on Tuesday night, as old adversary James Taylor hit four goals past stand-in goalkeeper Mark Towse.

Taylor now seems certain to pick-up the Premier Division's Golden Boot award, as he helped himself to a goal after just one minute and three more in the second half.

The striker had scored a hat-trick when these two sides drew 3-3 at Cheriton Road back in December. And he also hit a hat-trick against Invicta when playing for Bashley during the 1998-99 season.

The 18-year-old defender Towse was thrust into the limelight in father Gary's position as Invicta's appeals to the Dr Martens League to sign an emergency keeper fell on deaf ears.

Regular custodian Maurice Munden had long been unavailable for this game and Invicta had Bromley's Danny Harwood lined-up to make his second appearance for the club.

But with Chuck Martini going down with pneumonia, Harwood had to withdraw after being called up by Bromley for the London Senior Cup final on Wednesday.

The visitors had James Dryden back from suspension, but were without strikers Allan Tait and John Ayling and defenders Andy Morris and John Guest.

That meant a full debut for teenage striker Craig Maxwell alongside Lee Blackman, who had himself only made his full debut on Saturday.

In many ways, this game summed up Invicta's season as they lack the quality and depth to survive at this level. But they again showed a great spirit and attacking flair that you can only admire.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start as they conceded a goal after just a minute, when Taylor headed in a cross from the left.

It was 2-0 after 11 minutes as Brett Poate scored direct from a free kick when Dryden was harshly judged to have fouled Taylor on the edge of the penalty area.

Nothing was going right for Invicta as home goalkeeper Luc Curling escaped unpunished when he appeared to handle Blackman's 15th minute lob outside his penalty area following Anthony Henry's ball over the defence.

But Invicta were under more pressure as Michael Everitt cleared Warren Haughton's shot at the far post after 19 minutes, and Martin Chandler cleared Lewes Feremore's shot when James Ford broke down the right.

It was 3-0 after 27 minutes when Taylor touched Feremore's throw in from the right into the path of Ford, and the full back hit a low shot into the net from the edge of the box.

Invicta's first half luck was summed up when Maxwell's flick came back off the post and into the hands of goalkeeper Curling after 29 minutes, following a Chambers pass.

Towse was there to save from Taylor after 31 minutes when Feremore threaded the ball through and Henry got the ball clear.

Invicta could easily have caved in but gave a good account of themselves during the second half.

Chambers did well to carve out a chance for Blackman after 53 minutes, but home captain Alec Masson got in a clearance.

But Invita were to concede their 100th Premier Division goal of the season, when Taylor found the net with some aplomb after 57 minutes from Neil Davis' pass.

The visitors made a positive response and pulled a goal back on the hour, when James Millar's low ball in from the left was turned into his own goal by Dan Turner when the defender was under pressure from Maxwell.

It got better for Neil Cugley's side as Chandler made it 4-2 after 63 minutes with a stunning finish into the roof of the net when Dryden and Blackman did well to switch play from left to right.

Maxwell and Blackman were growing in confidence and combined down the right after 70 minutes, with the latter's low right-wing cross just eluding Dryden at the far post.

But Havant regained the initiative and Taylor completed his hat-trick after 72 minutes when the ball was played through to him on the left-hand side.

A Dryden shot was touched onto the crossbar by Curling after 79 minutes, and Maxwell just failed to convert the rebound as a strong tackle by Scott Lindsey stepped up the pressure.

But Taylor was not finished, and he made it 6-2 after 83 minutes following a ball down the middle.

Despite a heavy defeat, Invicta had created numerous chances of their own and Millar's 25-yard free kick during injury time was touched round the post by Curling.

Invicta's Blackman was the game's only booking for dissent after 21 minutes.

Folkestone Invicta: Towse, Everitt, Larkin, Lindsey, Henry, Blackman, Chandler, Chambers, Dryden, Maxwell, Millar. Unused subs: Guest and Tait.