Tuesday 17th October 2023.
Velocity Cup (Isthmian League Cup) Third Round
Herne Bay 1 Folkestone Invicta 1
Folkestone Invicta won 3-2 on penalties
Attendance. 187

Herne Bay: Harry Brooks, Sam German, Tom Hanfrey (Theo Osinfolarin 75), Harrison Pont, Liam Friend (Finlay Whitton 90), Danny Walder (Kayan Hassan 84), Frankie Smith, Mo Kamara, Michael Salako, Bola Dawodu (Jacob Gilbert 46), Archie Burnett. Sub not used: Jack Richards.
Goalscorer: Burnett (47)
Yellow card: Burnett

This was the last cup competition that both sides were left in. Invicta were entering the competition at this stage, whilst Herne Bay reached the 3rd Round by beating Sheppey United 2-1 last month. The winners would go through to the Fourth Round of this competition, the last 16 and just three games away from reaching the final.

There were three changes from Saturday’s victory over Lancing. Danny Walder, Frankie Smith and Archie Burnett came in with Theo Osinfolarin dropping to the bench and Dan Carrington and Gil Carvalho carrying knocks.

Herne Bay narrowly failed to reach the Fourth Round of the Isthmian League Cup for the first time in their history but over the 90 minutes did enough to win the tie…except score a second vital goal.

The lively Frankie Smith had the first chance in the ninth minute with his shot curling past the post. On 20 Harry Brooks came to Bay’s rescue with a fine save from Chris Regis. Michael Salako struck high and wide and then came a moment when Folkestone came close to taking the lead. Ibrahim Olutade and Jordan Ababio combined with Brooks and the post kept them out, with the ball harmlessly running across the goal face with no-one there to capitalise. Olutade, Ababio and David Smith were lively for the visitors, with Scott Heard in midfield the playmaker but the final ball was lacking and for Bay Salako and Mo Kamara were isolated up front as Herne Bay defended in numbers.

The home side upped the tempo in the final ten minutes of the first half with Bola Dawodu finding the wrong side of the post. From the second half kick-off Danny Walder hit a fizzer which moved in the air but did not deceive Luke Watkins. Then came a comedy moment for Invicta as a miss placed pass from Will Moses caused Watkins to hurriedly clear, but only to Archie Burnett who returned the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Bay were on top and in the lead.

A Tom Hanfrey corner was headed towards goal by Sam German but it was fielded by Watkins. Kamara was through but the ball was blocked by Callum Davies. Kann Penn for Folkestone played the ball across the goalmouth but Heard, aiming for the far post, struck wide. Then came another defensive error from Invicta with a short back pass to Watkins. The keeper was challenged by Kamara, the ball spun past the post and Watkins went down and required treatment.

Salako and Hanfrey both had further chances and with ten minutes left on the clock the visitors had their first chance of the half when Ira Jackson shot straight at Brooks. Herne Bay looked to be moving through to the next round.

Five minutes later came the defining moment as out of the blue David Smith laid the ball back to substitute Luke Holness who beat Watkins to equalise. Four minutes into time added on a Brooks free-kick was met by German but Watkins did well to push the all over the bar. Penalties it was then.

The writing was on the wall when the first penalty from Harrison Pont was saved. Kamara and Osinfolarin both scored theirs and Smith was wide of the mark. For Folkestone Holness had his attempt saved by Brooks with Smith, Jackson and Ade Cole all scoring to give them a 3-2 lead. Salako needed to score his to bring the scores level but cleared the bar. Herne Bay were out of the Velocity Cup.