With games against Bishop’s Stortford, Haringey Borough, and Potters Bar Town falling foul of the freezing temperatures, the Bay have been without Isthmian League Premier Division football for several weeks.

However, in an effort to keep the squad action ready, Kevin Watson put his side through the paces with a mid-season friendly against IL South-East side Hythe Town, a game which finished 2-0 to the Bay thanks to goals from Eddie Allsopp and Monty Saunders.

Harrison Hatfull and Marcel Barrington both came close to scoring early on, with the former having his effort ruled out for offside while Marcel’s one-on-one shot was saved.

Allsopp then broke the deadlock midway through the first half, striking from distance after the Hythe defence allowed the midfielder too much space to shoot.

Mason Saunders-Henry and Kymani Thomas were denied by the Hythe shot-stopper in the second half as the Bay looked to extend their lead.

But Saunders was the man to wrap the game up for the hosts, turning Thomas’ dangerous low cross home from around six yards out.

The Opposition

Folkestone Invicta Football Club, which was formed in 1936 and played in the East Kent Amateur League, took over use of the Cheriton Road ground in early 1991 after the demise of the old Folkestone club who had enjoyed a long history in the Southern League.

Invicta achieved senior status and joined Division One of the Winstonlead Kent League, making steady progress in its first two seasons at this level under club stalwart Staniforth. The nearest the club came to another trophy during these two seasons was when they lost the 1994 Plaaya Kent Senior Trophy Final 3-1 against Alma Swanley.

Invicta entered the F. A. Cup for the first time during the 1994-95 season, beating Hailsham Town and then Southern League Premier Division side Sittingbourne before going out 2-1 at home to a Worthing side which included former Tottenham striker Mark Falco.

It was the arrival of manager Neil Cugley from Ashford Town during the summer of 1997 which was to provide the catalyst for the return of Southern League football to the town.

Cugley made an immediate impact as promotion was achieved by finishing runners up to Herne Bay in 1997-98 when the club also finished runners up in the Plaaya Kent Senior Trophy for the third time after losing 1-0 in the final to Greenwich Borough at Ashford Town’s Homelands ground.

The 1999-2000 season saw the club achieve more progress with promotion to the Dr. Martens League Premier Division as runners up to Fisher Athletic (London) in the Eastern Division. Again, there was final day heartbreak for Invicta as the championship went right to the wire with Fisher winning away to Newport (Isle of Wight) to make Invicta’s final day win at Wisbech in vain.

The club switched from the Southern League to the Isthmian (Isthmian) Premier League for the 2004-05 season and finished in a mid-table position. A remarkable 2009-10 season that saw the club win promotion from the Isthmian League Division One South and reach the final of the Kent Senior Cup (losing 3-1 to Sittingbourne). Operating with a small squad, Invicta were denied the championship after being docked ten points for entering into a CVA agreement but were promoted via the play-offs.

After relegation in 2011, Folkestone won the Isthmian League Division One South championship by 24 points and manager Neil Cugley completed 1,000 matches as the club’s manager.

The 2021-22 season saw Invicta go further in the F A trophy than the club had ever gone before – losing 5-1 behind-closed-doors away to National League club Wrexham; reach the Fourth Round Qualifying of the F A Cup with a thrilling 3-3 away draw and then 3-2 home defeat against National League club Eastleigh after extra time.

Invicta also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup (losing to eventual winners Horsham) and the final of the Kent Senior Cup (losing 6-2 against Dartford at Chatham Town FC) but just missed out on a play off place. Ian Draycott broke the club’s all-time senior goalscoring record last season when the club also won the Isthmian League Premier Division Fair Play Award.

Opposition So Far

Currently, Boxing Day’s visitors have experienced a mixed Isthmian League Premier Division campaign, sitting 13 in the league table after eight wins, two draws, and ten losses, scoring 35 goals while conceding 37 for a goal difference of -2.

Folkestone also enter Monday’s game off the back of a narrow defeat in the FA Trophy, losing on penalties to Southern League Premier Division Central side Leiston.

Key Players

Ira Jackson Jr (Forward): A marquee signing for Folkestone Invicta, who had spent the past two seasons playing for Grimsby Town and Wealdstone in the National League. Jackson Jr is a former Invicta player who spent two prolific seasons at Cheriton Road, scoring 28 goals from just 47 games.

The loss of David Smith to Bromley was a blow during the summer but replacing him with a striker that has proven to have what it takes to play at the next level up shows that Folkestone mean business this season. His goals could prove to be crucial in their bid for promotion to the National League South.

Kadell Daniel (Midfielder): A Guyana international who joined the club from Hayes & Yeading United during the summer of 2022. Kadell started his career with local club Crystal Palace and was an unused substitute in their 2012 F A Cup tie against Derby County.

Kadell featured for a host of clubs, before joining Dover Athletic in August 2017, scoring a superb solo goal in a 2-0 win at Aldershot that took Dover top of the National League for the first time. He then joined Margate, initially on loan, before joining Kingstonian for the 2020-21 season. He now plays his football at Cheriton Road and has really proved himself as a threat.

Ian Gayle (Defender): Joined the club in the summer of 2022 from Eastbourne Borough / Cray Valley (PM), with whom he had been on dual registration. Ian started out in the youth system at Dagenham & Redbridge in 2010 before joining St Neots Town on a youth loan in March 2011 and the club went on to win the United Counties League.

He completed his scholarship and progressed into the Dagenham first team under John Still, making his Football League debut as a substitute against Wycombe Wanderers in April 2014. Born of Jamaican descent in Welling, Ian is the brother of Cray Valley PM’s Denzel and the cousin of cricketing legend Chris.

Last time we met

The last time we faced Folkestone Invicta was earlier this season on August 29, 2022, at Cheriton Road. On that occasion, the Bay, under the stewardship of Ben Smith, were unable to pull off a late comeback as the hosts ran out 2-1 winners.

Kadell Daniel gave the hosts the lead as early as the 11th minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse before rounding Jordan Perrin and slotting into an empty net.

The hosts then doubled their lead early in the second half when Ade Yusuff fired his shot low into the bottom corner of the Bay goal.

Kieron Campbell pulled a goal back for Ben Smith’s side with 20 minutes to play, firing past Bailey Vose from outside the area.

But the visitors couldn’t find that all-important equaliser as Folkestone hung on for all three points.

Ticket News

Adults: £12
Concession: £7
Junior (12-17): £5
Under 12s: £2

You can still buy your tickets for the game by following the link below.

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Match Sponsor

Today’s match is sponsored by our friends at HSE Training Ltd.