Date: 3rd October 2004

Scorers:
Invicta - Hermitage (12, 17) Thompson (34) Willers (67)
Eden - Casson (13, 16) Tooke (78)

Man of the match:
Chris Hermitage, 2 well taken goals and provided a hard working performance leading the line throughout the 80 minutes.

Invicta secured their 3rd win of the season with a hard earned victory against Eden Eagles at a damp Swanmead today. After a heavy defeat last week, Eagles were determined to improve their performance and proved a match for Invicta in this evenly contested match.

Invicta unchanged after last weeks win at Wickham went close in the first minute when Macey was denied by a fine save by Neville Wood. However, Invicta opened the scoring on 12 mins when Hermitage slotted home a penalty after a defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.

Eagles came storming back and equalised within 2 minutes when Matt Casson, outpaced the Invicta defence and slid the ball passed the advancing Smith. Eagles went 2-1 up on 16 minutes when Casson again found space and gave Smith no chance with a fine lob.

Invicta’s response was to replace the injured Macey with Willers and move Nicholls into the back line. Willers had an immediate impact as his first touch fed Hermitage who struck his second and the equaliser. Four goals in a six minute spell certainly livened the game up as the rain began to fall making the conditions more difficult for both teams.

Chances fell at both ends before the break with keepers Wood and Smith making important saves for their teams. Invicta took the lead on 34 minutes with Thompson's shot from 20 yards having enough pace to beat Wood efforts to parry the ball.

The second period saw Macey return for the injured Nicholls and Hinson adding more drive down Invicta left hand side. Hinson first touch was a fine goal bound effort after good work by Willers. Matt Thompson again provided Invicta's engine covering most areas of the pitch.

Invicta were coming under increasing pressure as the second period wore on with the Parsons brothers having to work hard to deny Casson his hat trick. Eagles captain Matt Booth was more influential as the game wore on. A fourth goal was needed to settle the nerves and Willers finally delivered in emphatic style as his ran clear and found the target with a low shot on 67 mins.

Eagles were not out of this game and an excellent 25 yard strike from Sam Tooke on 78 mins gave Smith no chance.

With these teams enjoying two high score draws last season, Eagles pushed for their fourth but Invicta held on and knew they had been in a battle to secure the 2 points.