Date: 6th November 2005

Scorers:
Invicta - Nicholls 6, Hermitage 43
Stanhope - Kinderman og, AN Other

Half Time 1 - 2

Man of the Match: Teddy - A fine piece of wing play that put the opposition under pressure all game with some aggressive and positive running on the Invicta left.

Another close game was expected against Stanhope one place below Invicta in the table coming into this game. With the opposition's pace, Nicholls returned to the back line with Barnett unfortunate to be starting on the bench plus the late withdrawal of Jack Freke gave an opportunity to Tim Hinson at left back.

Invicta got off to a fine start when Teddy forced a corner and Mason’s delivery saw Nicholls out jump the keeper to nod home after only 6 minutes. Stanhope with 3 up front kept Invicta on the back foot with Mason and Phillips forced into a more defensive stance. Having survived a couple of close offside calls, Stanhope’s pacey striker eventually got through and slotted home against the advancing Kinderman to make it 1-1 on 22 mins.

Willers was working hard up front and had a couple of half chances, that the keeper held on to. As the half was coming to a close, Nicholls conceded a corner and from an unchallenged header the ball fell in the 6 yard box and Invicta went in 2-1 down at the break.

Parsons and Poore replaced Whittome and Phillips as Invicta set about levelling things. That did not take long as good work by the impressive Hinson and Teddy set the ball up for Poore and his shot fell to Hermitage whose low shot on the turn was enough to beat the keeper within 3 minute of the restart.

The game opened up as the second half progressed and Poore was influencing matters at both ends with some fine tackling and passing of the ball. Invicta thought they had a penalty when Thompson was shoved off the ball in the box but play was waved on.

Clear opportunities were hard to come by with Leigh and Nicholls holding firm in the centre of the home defence. At the other end Willers could not find that bit of space to get clear of the tight marking he endured most of the game.

Overall an entertaining game with both sides giving 100% in wet conditions and probably a fair result over the 80 minutes with neither side deserving to win or lose the game.

Once again the competition for places is bringing the best out of the boys and giving the manager much to think about in the team selection.

Invicta move up one place to second in the table and now take a two week break from league action as they face 2 tough cup ties. Next week away to Welling United of the Kent Youth league in the 2nd round of the Kent Youth Cup followed by an away trip to Horley Town in the Shield.

Leading Scorers:
Tom Willers 9
Chris Hermitage 5
Matt Thompson 5
Jamie Mason 2
Josh Poore 2