Folkestone Invicta match report
match report by Simon Grier
Ks are now nine games without a win in what seems to be becoming a trademark post-Christmas collapse. This is the third time in just six seasons that they’ve endured a lengthy winless run through January, February and March; really three in five when you remember last season didn’t even have football in those months.
With the league season already over the result wasn’t important but fans would at least have hoped for an improved performance. It didn’t come against an effective Folkestone team who Ks rarely troubled.
Ks didn’t lay a glove on their visitors during an extremely turgid first half. At least debutant goalkeeper Julian Schwarzer had little to do either; a Ronnie Dolan shot and a header from ex-K Luke Wanadio narrowly cleared his crossbar in what could loosely be described as the half’s highlights.
Both sides came out after the break with more purpose and Ks had the ball in the net within five minutes. Timothy Roberts parried Alex Addai’s deflected shot and Elliot Buchanan turned the rebound in, but from an offside position.
It was a wake-up call for Invicta who then took the game by the scruff of the neck in a torrid spell for Ks. Schwarzer made good saves from David Smith and Matthew Newman; Wanadio had an effort deflected narrowly over; and Fabio Saraiva was extremely lucky to dodge a second yellow for bringing Wanadio down in a dangerous position.
The pressure eventually told when Ryan Johnson won the ball and found Adam Yusuff. Yusuff played David Smith in on goal and from the right-hand side of the box he fired low across Schwarzer into the bottom corner.
Four minutes later it was 2-0, this time Yusuff the man to find space on the right and beat Schwarzer with a similar finish.
Nine minutes from the end Ks pulled one back. Ollie Cook got a powerful header on a Kenny Beaney corner and the referee adjudged the ball to have narrowly crossed the line before Roberts could push it out.
Nonetheless there was no late flurry from Ks and Folkestone saw the game out comfortably to leave a disconsolate home fanbase wondering where the next win is coming from.
Kingstonian: Julian Schwarzer, Jerry Puemo, Fabio Saraiva, Alfie Young, Ollie Cook, Kenny Beaney, Alex Addai, Gus Sow, Elliott Buchanan, Daniel Ajakaiye, Kershaney Samuels.
Subs: Walter Figueira (for Daniel Ajakaiye, 63m), Simon Cooper (for Kershaney Samuels, 84m), Jay Barton, Nyren Clunis (for Jerry Puemo, 43m).
Folkestone Invicta: Tim Roberts, Jordan Wright, Andy Drury, Matt Newman, Callum Davies, Ryan Johnson, Luke Wanadio, Ronnie Dolan, David Smith, Ade Yusuff, Alfie Paxman.
Subs: Ian Draycott (for Andy Drury, 69m), Kieron McCann (for Luke Wanadio, 86m), Micheal Everitt, Connor Collins.
Goal scorers: David Smith (71m, 0-1), Adam Yusuff (75m, 0-2), Ollie Cook (81m, 1-2)
Attendance: 281
