More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Folkestone Invicta came from behind to win for the second time in four days and it was the same man with the winning goal.
Days after a 2-1 comeback victory over Chatham Town, Neil Cugley's side beat Deal Town on Tuesday night by the same scoreline, Dave Smith netting another winner.
Luke Eldridge had given Southern Counties East hosts Deal Town the lead at the Charles Ground before Alfie Paxman had levelled. Smith combined well with Tyler Sterling to complete the comeback.
Cray Valley enjoyed a 4-0 win over Margate.
The Miller were two goals ahead after just eight minutes, opening the scoring from the penalty spot and doubling it soon after from a free-kick. Ade Yusuff tucked away the opener and Matt Warren bent in the set-piece.
Denzel Gayle and Francis Babalola combined to create the third, converted by Hassan Ibrahiym. The scoring was complete when Cray added a fourth in the second half through Babalola.
Herne Bay had their first pre-season outing of the season at Fisher and came away 2-0 winners.
Both goals came in the final half hour and both were scored by substitutes.
Zach Fagan headed home a Tom Carlton corner while Dean Grant caused the home defence plenty of problems, netting the second with a shot that had too much power on it for the keeper, and coming close to a couple more.
“A win keeps everyone smiling,” commented manager Ben Smith after the game, their first in 157 days.
The hosts live-streamed the match so fans got a chance to watch. Herne Bay are of one of the club’s calling for the government to let fans in.
After the game the club tweeted: “We experienced first hand what football behind closed doors was like last night. We urgently ask the FA and DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) to #LetFansIn to help save non-league football clubs who are the glue that sticks many communities together!”
Glebe are backing the #letfansin campaign too and they hosted Hythe Town on Tuesday night.
The SCEFL side said: “We’ve hosted two matches in Covid safe environment. No income - No fans - killing us - killing Non-league - get people off crowded beaches into safe stadia.”
Both of Hythe’s goals came from the 20-yard range, Frannie Collin getting their first and Alex Flisher got the second shortly after coming on, latching onto a fine pass from teenager Bradley Ihionvien.
Those goals came either side of an effort from former Hythe man Frankie Sawyer, netting for the lower-ranked team.
Whitstable Town hit four without reply against Thanet United, their Kent county League opponents providing opposition at short-notice.
Aaron Millbank struck the bar early on and there were several other good chances before Liam King opened the scoring shortly before the break.
Tom Bryant headed in a second, good feet from academy player Muhammed Cham led to him sliding home a third before Charles Etumu made it four.
Phoenix Sports and Faversham town played out a goalless draw.
Ramsgate's game at Carshalton Athletic was another to be played infront of a live feed, enabling fans to watch.
Two goals from Tom Chapman had put the Rams ahead but the home side ran out 3-2 winners.
SCEFL side Corinthian made it back to back wins as they returned to action. They beat SC Thamesmead 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Cray Wanderers and Hollands & Blair drew 2-2 at Flamingo Park, in a game split into three 30 minutes. Two trialists were on target for Wanderers. Ben Brown scored Blair’s opener and captain Callum McGeehan struck their second.
Snodland Town fought back from two goals down to win their Wednesday night game against Farnborough OBG 3-2.
Kennington beat Faversham Strike Force 2-0 and their newly installed recording set-up means fans will be able to watch the highlights.
The pre-season action continues on Thursday night,including games at Deal, Lordswood and Rochester United, but matches continue to be played behind closed doors for now.
