Scorers:
Invicta - Willers (5, 15, 75) Hermitage (10)
Vinters Park - 30, 35, 42, 45, 60

Half Time 4 - 3

Invicta Colts will be kicking themselves for letting a 3-0 lead in the opening quarter of an hour turn into a 4-3 deficit at half time in a thoroughly entertaining game against a quality footballing team.

Invicta were out the blocks early with Tom Willers and Chris Hermitage combining well in attack. Tom Willers scored on 5 mins with a typical run outpacing the defence and rounded the keeper for 1-0. A quality free kick from Mason was headed home at the near post by Hermitage on 10 mins and when Austin won the ball in midfield to find Hermitage he slipped Willers in for his second and a 3-0 lead.

The home side were stunned yet always had a look about them of being organised and comfortable on the ball. Invicta stood firm until the half an hour mark but the pressure was mounting and 3 well worked goals followed as Invicta midfield and defence were run ragged for 15 mins.

Vinters went ahead in injury time when Jack Freke who had an excellent game was unfortunate to concede a penalty with an innocuous handball.

After the break, Nicholls and Austin switched positions in midfield to close the space on Vinters left hand side and this helped Invicta hold a stronger defensive line. Vinters did go 5-3 up around the hour mark when a good move on the right was well finished at the near post.

Credit to Invicta they kept plugging away and an despite having less possession in the second period, looked threatening with Willers searching for his second hat trick in a row. He made it on 75 when Nicholls played him through – 5-4.

This gave Invicta the push they needed and when Austin was brought down in injury time it was left to Chris Hermitage to repeat his feat of 2 weeks ago and clinch a point for Invicta. His spot kick hit the inside of the post and stayed out to leave Invicta disappointed and pointless from an energetic display.

Invicta are creating chances and scoring the goals, but clearly work needs to be done to defend better as a unit as the goals scored were not down to individual errors, but a combination of quality from the opposition and a need to put more pressure on the ball higher up the park.