Folkestone Invicta (A) - 28th August 2023

By Josh Cole

The ‘Gate face a short trip to Folkestone on Bank Holiday Monday for matchday five and our first Kent Derby of the 23/24 Isthmian Premier Division season!

In our last match we suffered a 1-2 defeat to Cheshunt on Friday Night at Hartsdown Park. You can read the match report from that game by clicking here.

Manager Reece Prestedge said “we looked like the team more likely to score” in that second half but it was the visitors who scored two gaols and won the game. You can watch the full interview on our YouTube channel by clicking here. 

SEASONS SO FAR

Folkestone also known as Invicta currently sit 14th place on four points with one win 4-0 vs Wingate & Finchley, one draw away 0-0 vs Hashtag United and two losses to Chatham Town (2-3) and Enfield Town (1-2), both losses so far being in their two home games so the ‘Gate will look to capitalise on that this coming Monday. They have scored seven goals and conceded five giving them a goal difference of +2. Their top scorer so far this season is Ibrahim Olutade who has three goals, all coming in the 4-0 win against Wingate & Finchley. A player to look out for is former ‘Gate midfielder Ade Cole who has started the season very brightly for Invicta.

The ’Gate are sat a couple places above their Kent counterparts in 11th on six points with two wins against Whitehawk (2-1), and Concord Rangers (1-2) but have lost two games to Hornchurch (4-1) and Cheshunt (1-2). Margate have scored six goals and conceded eight in the first four matches giving us a -2 goal difference. Our top scorer is Phil Roberts who is on three goals with two coming against Whitehawk and one against Cheshunt on Friday night.

There are a few familiar faces in the Invicta team alongside Ade Cole. Attacker Ira Jackson, who was in the Margate ranks in 2017, full back Freddy Barton, who was a big part in the Kent Senior Cup victory last season, former manager Andy Drury who plays in midfield and striker David Smith who played a handful of games for the ‘Gate last season.

The ‘Gate will be in pink for this Kent Derby with Folkestone playing in their coveted gold and black strip.

The officials for this bank holiday trip on Monday is Peter Dingle (referee) and he will be accompanied by Perry Hart (Assistant referee) and Matt Charles (Assistant referee).

Unable to travel to Folkestone? Tune in to our X account @margate_fc for live match updates from 2:15pm onwards!

STADIUM ADDRESS

ALCALINE STADIUM

CHERITON ROAD

FOLKESTONE

CT19 5JU

Invicta Inflict Bank Holiday Misery On Blues

By Dylan Smith

The ‘Gate travelled to the Alcaline Stadium, where they faced Folkestone in the first Kent derby of the season. Margate would rue missed chances as they lost 2-0.

The game started with Folkestone looking the team on top. Ex-manager Andy Drury had the opening chance of the game, as he headed wide from a corner. This would continue with the Seasiders getting a few more set pieces in the opening ten minutes.

Margate would grow into the game, as Ben Greenhalgh and Phil Roberts got onto the ball. The first chance that the ‘Gate would get came through a keeper mistake as the ball slipped right out of his hands and fall to the attacking midfielder on the edge of the box. With the goal open, Antonis Vasiliou swung at it, but the ball went just wide of the post.

The next chance for the Blues would fall to Steve Cawley. He brought the ball down with a brilliant touch on the edge of the box, cut in on his right and curled one at the top right corner which smashed against the crossbar. With just under five minutes to go in the half, Vasiliou would have another golden chance to send the ‘Gate into the interval with a one goal lead as he was put through one on one with the keeper but unfortunately, he was denied by the shot stopper.

With everything to play for, the second half kicked off with both sides looking to open the scoring. Folkestone would mimic their start with a few corners, nothing notable would come from them in the opening five minutes though.

Painfully, it would be the home side who took the lead. A set-piece for the Seasiders would ultimately be the ‘Gate’s downfall. A header at the back post would deflect off a ‘Gate defenders head into the top corner.

Cawley would nearly level the game for the Blues. Harrison Hatfull found the striker running through on goal as he took the ball in his stride and was seemingly bound to score, but it wasn’t to be as he placed the ball into the keeper’s hands.

Things from there on would go bad to worse, as Invicta doubled their lead in the 68th minute. With the ‘Gate stranded high up the pitch; the home side launched a counterattack down the left-hand side. Heard would make his way into the box, play it to the back post where he would find Ira Jackson to smash it in the bottom corner.

The final whistle would bring an end the first Kent derby of the season, with Folkestone walking away with all three points and the bragging rights for the time being.

The ’Gate now look onto Saturday afternoon, where their FA cup campaign will start off against Hendon.

Line-up

Seaden, Hatfull, Johnson, Sterling, Hudson, Vasiliou (Rutherford 74’), Blackman, Cawley (Smith 89’), Roberts, Greenhalgh, Duncanson (Cham 85’)

Attendance

1,112