Tuesday 10 November 2015. Ryman League, Division One South.
Walton & Hersham 0 Folkestone Invicta 3.
Three first-half goals destroyed any hopes Swans had of getting anything from the match against the Division One South leaders, who have only been beaten once away all season. Their record against the Kent side in recent years has been poor, and although they had a much better second-half the damage was done.
The loss of two players who have been in fine form recently, Aaron Watson and Regan Mendes, did not help Swans’ cause, both being injured. Watson’s troublesome hamstring meant he could only been named as a substitute, and only to be used if likely to influence the result. Kambo Smith and Shannon Wallace came in as replacements.
The visitors had a chance after just five minutes when Ian Draycott was picked out at the far-post with a cross from the left, but his header was well saved by home goalkeeper Jack Howard diving to his left.
Swans’ first opportunity came after a quarter of an hour when Smith got the ball in from the left to Andrew Mensah, and his shot to the near-post was saved by keeper Tim Roberts.
But two minutes later the visitors took the lead with a fine goal. Jon Pilbeam was found just inside the right corner of the box, and he struck a left-foot shot that found the net just inside the far angle of post and crossbar, the only place available to score.
Midway through the half Swans’ Femi Ismail drove in a fine shot from 25 yards that looked on target, only for the ball to strike Mensah, standing in an offside position.
Folkestone immediately doubled their lead with another goal that was testament to their efficiency and clinical finishing. A corner was played short on the left, and when the ball was driven into the six-yard box Carl Rook diverted it past Howard.
The third goal came after 38 minutes when Josh Vincent took a long throw from the right, and when the ball was nodded on Scott Heard drove a low shot home from the edge of the box.
Swans made a double substitution for the second-half, Smith and Mensah being replaced by Sam Pledger and Juan Onieva, the Spanish player having re-signed after leaving during the 2013-14 season.
Less than a minute after the resumption Jack Battie drove over a cross from the right, and the ball just cleared the far, top corner of the visitors’ goal.
Folkestone had another chance when the ball was crossed into the box from the right, and indecision in the Swans’ defence led to Phil Starkey driving a shot over. The visitors then won a free-kick on the right, and when the ball was driven across Frankie Chappell just failed to get a touch at the far-post.
With twenty minutes of the half played the Kent side’s Heard was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card for an out of control, lunging tackle on John Oyenuga.
Swans continued to compete well in the second-half, and Battie cut in from the left to get off a powerful shot that Roberts beat away, with Pledger just unable to get to the loose ball. Then a good move led to Harry Mills crossing from the left and Oyenuga just failing to get to the ball at the far-post. Another opportunity came when a free-kick was won just outside the edge of the box on the right, but Kadeem Ajeon’s driven kick failed to pick out a teammate.
It was the visitors who went close to extending their lead with three minutes of normal-time remaining as Heard crossed from the left and the ball was headed against the bar.
Swans’ Team: Jack Howard, John Oyenuga, Shannon Wallace, Olufemi Ismail, James Richmond, Harry Mills, André Scarlett (C-J. Williams-Agunabor 79’), Kadeem Ajeon, Andrew Mensah (Juan Onieva 45’), Jack Battie, Kambo Smith (Sam Pledger 45’). Subs. not used: Aaron Watson, Sean Fallon. Caution: Scarlett, foul (58’).
Folkestone Team: Roberts, Vincent, Blanks, Friend, Chappell, Everitt (Miller 69’), Starkey (Newman 64’), Pilbeam, Draycott, Rook (Wells 80’), Heard. Subs. not used: Edge, Sparks. Scorers: Pilbeam (17’), Rook (24’), Heard (38’). Cautions: Vincent, foul (51’), Heard, foul (66’).
