Sunday 29th January 2006

Scorers:
Invicta - Willers (17, 50, 76) Poore (12, 25)
Hamsey - 19, 78

Half Time 1 - 3

Man of the Match:
Matt Thompson – A masterful captains performance, keeping play tight at the back and contributed to the best goal of the game with a dynamic run from his own half.

Invicta travelled to Warlingham to play bottom side Hamsey Rangers who have got the better of Invicta in recent seasons with their fine passing game. On a bright but bitterly cold day, the pitch was very firm and a little tricky for the players.

Invicta made one change to last weeks starting line up with Josh Poore replacing Tom Parsons in centre midfield and the return to the squad of Glen Nicholls and Tim Hinson.

Kicking into the breeze Hamsey made a bright start keeping the Invicta defence busy with Freke particularly active on the left. The opening goal came on 12 minutes from a Thompson though ball to Willers who played in Poore who stroked the ball home from 15 yards.

This certainly settled Invicta and it was 2-0 on 17 mins after great work on the left from Teddy whose cross caused problems and Willers finished with his second attempt.

Hamsey kept pressing and forced a corner after Freke was put under pressure and a free header from the home teams centre half crossed the line before Whittome could scoop it away.

Further chances fell to Willers but some good keeping and poor finishing prevented Invicta extending their lead until 25 mins when Poore again cut in from the right and delivered a fine low finish into the corner to give Invicta cushion at the break.

A bit of squad rotation was needed at half time despite good performances from Barnett and Teddy they made way for Leigh and Hinson, also with Phillips struggling, the lively Nicholls entered the fray to tighten up the Invicta midfield.

Hamsey had the breeze at their backs in the second half and were looking to camp Invicta in their own half, however it had little effect as Invicta were using the ball better with Mason offering an outlet on the right.

The Hamsey keeper made excellent saves to deny Willers and Poore from wide angles but when these two combined on 50 mins, a clean strike from Willers evaded the keeper and went in off the inside of the post.

Holmes replaced the ever improving and confident Whittome with Taylor occupying centre midfield to deny Hamsey the space they had been finding.

The best goal came with 4 mins left when Thompson intercepted a through ball in his own half and made a fine run down the right wing and a precision ball saw Willers take one touch and fire low into the net for yet another hat trick.

A rare mistake in the last two mins from Freke allowed Hamsey to bundle home a consolation second goal, but this was a sound performance from Invicta, who took their opportunities well and defended as a unit when they were required to do so.

A special note to keeper David Kinderman who whilst not called upon to make any glamorous saves, was very effective in his marshalling of the defence and had great awareness of what was happening in front of him.

Invicta face Wickham Wanderers A in the league trophy quarter final next Sunday at Swanmead and will require the same focus and belief if they are going to progress next Sunday in their re arranged league fixture from early January.