Sunday 2nd April 2006

Scorers:
Invicta - Hermitage (12 pen), Nicholls (19), Leigh (62), Willers (70)
Stanhope - 17, 30, 55, 80

Half Time 2 - 2

Man of the Match: Glen Nicholls – Despite a goal at either end and a booking late in the game Glen once again showed his importance in the centre of the park for Invicta. Full of running, Glen was always involved and never short of a word or two to gee up his team mates.

An injury time goal denied Invicta both points in a fair encounter but it was enough to ensure Invicta finished runners up in C division, a tremendous achievement over the season with a cup final to come. Another landmark was achieved when Chris Hermitage scored his 100th goal for the club.

Playing on a postage stamp is never easy for 16 year olds and credit to both teams for using what space was available to play some football and serve up a goal feast on a blustery morning.

Invicta went ahead on 12 mins after Mason was felled in the box and Hermitage celebrated his 15th of the season. The lead only lasted 5 mins as Thompson sliced his clearance and the left winger got ahead of Whittome to slot passed Kinderman.

Invicta bounced back with Nicholls starting and finishing a move that involved good work from Josh Poore. Stanhope had the advantage of the wind in the first period and as a result had more possession. They equalised on the half hour after the Invicta defence failed to clear and the Stanhope forward seized on the ball and finished neatly after rounding two players.

Leading scorer Tom Willers looked more like his old self when he joined proceedings midway through the half and was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed for offside. Opportunities were given to Barnett, Phillips and Tom Parsons to impress and make a claim for a cup final spot and all did well with solid contributions.

Ollie Leigh replaced Whittome for the only change at half time as Invicta looked to get a grip on the game in the second period but it was Stanhope who had the better of the first 15 minutes and when Thompson failed to shrug off the home forward, a neat finish put Stanhope ahead for the first time in the game.

Invicta kept their shape and slowly increased the pressure on the home side and dominated the final 20 minutes as Teddy and Poore gave Invicta amore attacking feel. The equaliser came from a Thompson free kick that Ollie Leigh headed home on 62 mins and Willers finally got his just deserts when he ran through and for once the flag stayed down and in went his 35th goal of the campaign.

Kinderman pulled off an excellent save when Stanhope broke from their own box, but with time ticking away a corner 2 mins into injury time saw a near post flick on hit Nicholls on the head and flew passed Kinderman into the net to make it 4-4.

An entertaining game between two teams who both have cup finals to look forward to before the end of the month.

Invicta finish their league season home to Wickham Wanderers next Sunday at Swanmead with a 10.30am Kick off.