Herne Bay entertained Folkestone Invicta in this Kent derby and despite going a goal down in the first half,they fought back with a sterling second half performance to shade the game by a 3-2 score line.

Folkestone Invicta set the early pace and quickly took command of the first half, forcing Bay deep in thier own half for long periods. As early as 5 minutes Phil Stevenson caused panic in Bay's defence, surging down the right flank before firing a stinging low cross that fizzed across the face of the goal but it eluded every one.

In the 10th minute Gary Sayer was fouled on the half way line, Dan Eason took the free kick high into the Invicta area but Folkestone's Frankie Chappell headed the danger clear.

A minute later Tom Bryant fed a good ball into the path of Dean Grant but his high shot was well saved by the former Herne Bay custodian Jack Delo.

On 15 minutes Invicta's Josh Vincent ghosted through Bay's defence before striking a venomous shot that hit the left hand post with Eason well beaten. Returning favourite, Byron Walker started to impose himself on the game and on 19 minutes he saw his snap shot graze the left hand post. Further chances fell to the visitors with Stevenson shooting over from 18 yards and Eason punching clear following a corner from Darren Smith in the 28th minute.

Folkestone deservedly took the lead on 38 minutes when Stevenson squared the ball to Stuart King standing on the edge of the box unmarked ,he simply turned and slammed in a hard low shot
into the bottom corner. Bay should have equalised soon after but Walker scooped his shot over the bar.

Bay were getting back into the game and should have equalised in the closing minutes of the half after a foul on Josh Sargeant resulted in a free kick on the edge of the box, his resulting kick was well saved by Delo.

Bay were much better in the second half and after a minute of the restart, Grant should have levelled when he ran through Invicta's defence but shot wide with only Delo to beat. Further chances fell to James Turner and Rhys Lawson as the Bay took control of the game and
this effort produced the equaliser in the 54th minute when Lawson shrugged off a challenge, beat the full back, passed to Turner who sent the ball to the far post where James Campbell rose totally unmarked to head wide of Jack Delo.

Invicta came back into the game and in the 64th Darren Smith's shot was cleared by Callum McGeegan on the goal line. It was Lawson who put Bay in front; Turner played a quick one-two with Lawson, allowing him the time to fire a shot across Delo despite Frankie Chappell attempted block.

Bay's lead only lasted 2 minutes. Richard Atkins cooly chipped Eason after a cross from King. Dan Wisker went close on 70 minutes before Tunji Agbajae replaced Turner.

The visitors were visibly tiring giving Bay’s wide players acres of room. Grant in particular made the best possible use of this space
when in the 84th minute he raced down the right and sent a fantastic cross to the far post to the feet of Wisker, whose fierce shot across
the line, deflected off Chappell into the goal to give Bay the lead.
Folkestone still hadn’t given up. King fired a free kick over the bar and a superb volley from Chappell missed the target by inches, but Bay
were determined to hold onto their lead and in the closing minutes could have gone further ahead after a great run and cross from Walker
was met by Grant but he fired over from close range. Grant and Walker were replaced by Dan Williams and Steven Lloyd near the end.

In the final minutes Invicta could have squared the match when Johan Torhorst squandered a great chance following a cross from Josh Vincent.
but Bay held out for a well deserved victory.

Att: 262

Team: Eason, Sayer, Bryant, McGeehan, Campbell, Sergeant, Grant, Wisker, J Turner, Walker, J Turner, Lawson
Subs used: Agbajae (Turner 79 mins) Williams (Walker 88 mins) Lloyd (Grant 89 mins)
Not used: M Turner, Okundalaiye

MOM: Calum McGeehan