From Folkestone Invicta website

[blackballed]

Date: 08.12.07

Competition: Ryman Premier

Venue: Bridge Avenue

Attendance: 264

Luckless Folkestone Invicta left Essex feeling robbed as they went down to a controversial 90 th minute penalty on their first visit to AFC Hornchurch on Saturday afternoon.

 

With the scores level at 1-1, referee Wade Norcott appeared to have given a goal kick when substitute Amos Foyewa went down under challenge from Charlie Mitten when the goalkeeper came sliding out on the wet surface.

 

But an assistant referee flagged for an infringement and substitute Mark JANNEY stepped forward to convert the subsequent penalty and give his side an unlikely three points after the home side had trailed 1-0 going into the final ten minutes.

 

Mitten could not believe the decision and got a hand to Janney's spot kick, but Invicta were beaten and have now slipped to second from bottom in the Ryman premier League when they seemed to be on course for a long overdue victory.

 

The visitors' players and supporters made their feelings known to the officials at the final whistle as they vented their frustration.

 

Invicta had led thanks to a first half goal from new striker Richard Shittu and twice hit the post during the second half.

 

But striker Simon Parker equalised in the 82 nd minute before Janney's late winner and the home side held on despite six minutes being added on at the end of the 90.

 

The visitors went into the game with Shittu partnering the fit again Leigh Bremner in attack, with Liam Friend on the bench for the first time this season alongside Ellis Remy and James Everitt, with player-coach Mark Saunders still out injured.

 

For the second successive away match, Invicta found themselves in Essex with a running track between the crowd and the pitch.

 

Amid wet conditions, first half chances were limited, though Invicta got themselves into trouble following their own thrown in the 13th minute when Mitten had to save with his feet at the expense of a corner after a good ball was threaded down the left hand side to Parker.

 

Invicta have missed striker Bremner's industry in recent games and the striker was heavily involved in the Folkestone side's 26 th minute goal when he ran past two defenders and played the ball out left to SHITTU who opened his account for the club with a well-taken finish into the far corner of the net.

 

Bremner raced away again a minute later but his attempted cross from the left to James Corbett at the far post was headed away by Jim McFarlane.

 

There was a scare at the other end in the 29 th minute when big striker Richard Goddard scooped the ball over Mitten and onto the crossbar when the Invicta goalkeeper had appeared to have dealt with Steve Whales' cross from the right.

 

A Bremner shot flew just past the post from outside the penalty area after 53 minutes, but there were worrying signs for the visitors when the striker appeared to be struggling seconds later when he broke again before being stopped in his tracks.

 

Invicta centre half Tom Bryant made a good 56 th minute block when left back Elliot Styles' cross into the middle of the penalty area was nodded down.

 

The home side were close in the 64 th minute when Goddard headed wide after Parker got to the bye line down the left hand side from a Dean Green pass.

 

Invicta won their only corner of the game after 72 minutes when a headed back pass had home goalkeeper Dale Brightly scrambling.

 

Brightly then made an excellent save to touch a Charlie Glyde shot onto the post, with Roland Edge's follow up flashing just wide of the same post across goal.

 

As the rain fell more heavily, Goddard shot wide from outside the penalty area for the visitors after 74 minutes.

 

And the home side were level courtesy of a neat finish from PARKER when the ball fell to him inside the penalty area.

 

Invicta responded immediately and might have known their luck was out as within 60 seconds of the equaliser, James Everitt hit a low shot against the post.

 

The visitors were disappointed not to have seen out a victory and they were then left shattered by the late penalty decision.

 

The Urchins' Frank Curley was the game's only booking for a 21 st minute foul.

 

 

AFC HORNCHURCH : Brightly, Barnard, Styles, Purdie, McFarlane, Green (Halle 82 mins), Boateng, Curley (Janney 60 mins), Goddard, Parker, Whales (Foyewa 60 mins). Unused subs : Elmes, Bostock.

 

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Mitten, Watson, Edge, Chappell, Bryant, Okikiolu, M. Everitt, Shittu (J. Everitt 75 mins), Bremner (Remy 66 mins), Corbett, Glyde. Unused subs : Friend, Stonebridge.

 

 

Match Report by Richard Murrill

 

[Gooner's Disciple No1]

it was a definite pen!

[blackballed]

It also looked like one to me as I was behind our goal when it happened, I know its hard to take but it has happend to us enough times.

[Gooner's Disciple No1]

yes for once this season a decision goes our way

[BlueGate Alan]

I still reckon you had a dodgy penalty

 

Bit like the won we won against you

 

Go and smash those Rams on Tuesday please.

[Diz]

Weather and electricity permitting

[BlueGate Alan]

Well if our match is cancelled might pop over and see your lot again.

[Wivenhoe Urchin]

There will almost always be controversy in matches played in those horrendous conditions. The main thing is that you get results you want from those conditions and we certainly did that!

 

We were disappointed at Margate when they had a late penalty that won them the game. We took it and we take the points from Saturday's game as luck evens itself out.

[Mr Happy]

Surely that gate (264) isn't right. I thought you guys normally got around 4-500 for a home league match.

[BlueGate Alan]

Did you actually watch them win Ant?

[urchinman1961]

the gate was right conditions were awful hence the low turnout about 230 urchin faithfull and the rest from kent

[YELLOW]

Some very low attendances in the Ryman on Saturday. We only got just over 200.