Invicta vs Billericay - Saturday 11/11/23

[finbarr_in_z]

Need a win today. Dropping too quickly. COYS!

[finbarr_in_z]

Folkestone Invicta

1Joe Coleman
2Kane Penn
3Toby Byron
4Jake Goodman
5Callum Davies
6Will Moses
7Scott Heard
8Ade Cole
9Luke Holness
10Andy Drury
11Christopher Regis

12Freddy Barton
14Elliott Moore
15Ira Jackson
16Ibrahim Olutade
17Luke Watkins

[finbarr_in_z]

Commentary. World's logest link....

email.mixlrmail.com/c/eJxcjs2KrDAQRp8mLpv8tZpFFhfE15BKqrwGEtOUcXr67QdlVlPLOgfOh14hmo686p0blFXOdpvXqIYRMMYh4FOaXuJzVBhWM9hRmQhd8lpqo66z1j3tQw6KAsGoURp0zgorS_rOXCDlR6yly35r7SXMP6FnoecbXkDoOaSciVOET6vvfY3CzGcry1FPjiTMtNN7CVwBIxxtgUzchO4vpRCmswgz0dX5fUYoL0j_d2Gm2-3Yr2kPwLwccO5IfCzMwsoPbLXe45rP6Yv-Rn4CAAD__y8HXmA

[finbarr_in_z]

HT 0-0

[finbarr_in_z]

Attendance 847
Best of the season?

[finbarr_in_z]

Gooooooaallll!
1-0

Holness in the 90th minute.
4 mins added time.

[Joel]

Much better today we dug in today a change of formation and players on the pitch made the difference big result which could make a difference to our season.

[finbarr_in_z]

Win 1-0.
Hanging on 2nd half.

[stumpy]

Nothing like a last minute winner to send the crowd home happy.

We lined up 5-4-1 and were slightly the better team for the first hour, although we struggled to create any real chances. Last 20, we tired a bit and they got on top - needed Joe to make some excellent saves. With five minutes to go, it seemed we had scored through Luke Holness, but disallowed for a foul, which seemed very harsh, And then in the 90th minute a break away, a through ball which put Luke one on one with the keeper and he finished in off the post. Scenes, as they say.

A much improved performance and a much needed win.

Hard to believe that Billy-Rick are second in the league on today's showing; bad day at the office for them.

[bollockchops]

Nov 11, 2023 17:30:35 GMT stumpy said:

Nothing like a last minute winner to send the crowd home happy.

We lined up 5-4-1 and were slightly the better team for the first hour, although we struggled to create any real chances. Last 20, we tired a bit and they got on top - needed Joe to make some excellent saves. With five minutes to go, it seemed we had scored through Luke Holness, but disallowed for a foul, which seemed very harsh, And then in the 90th minute a break away, a through ball which put Luke one on one with the keeper and he finished in off the post. Scenes, as they say.

A much improved performance and a much needed win.

Hard to believe that Billy-Rick are second in the league on today's showing; bad day at the office for them.

I thought that Bill and Thicky was a more appropriate term for todays oppo. Good win it seems but could be an 'up and down like a tart's knickers' season

[damo]

Very good entertaining game well done lads why can't we play like that more often, Definitely a game of two halves thought second half we were on top but our keeper had to make some great saves.

[gazza41]

Seems coaches been listening regarding the set up especially against form sides. That’s what you call winning ugly. Not a classic, but those picked worked hard. A win is a win and I’m sure the club will be happy.

[finbarr_in_z]

Nov 11, 2023 17:30:35 GMT stumpy said:

Nothing like a last minute winner to send the crowd home happy.

We lined up 5-4-1 and were slightly the better team for the first hour, although we struggled to create any real chances. Last 20, we tired a bit and they got on top - needed Joe to make some excellent saves. With five minutes to go, it seemed we had scored through Luke Holness, but disallowed for a foul, which seemed very harsh, And then in the 90th minute a break away, a through ball which put Luke one on one with the keeper and he finished in off the post. Scenes, as they say.

A much improved performance and a much needed win.

Hard to believe that Billy-Rick are second in the league on today's showing; bad day at the office for them.

Spot on description to me - definitely how I saw it.

[gerryhan]

What a way to win a tight game.

Ninety minutes are up and and your centre forward latches on to a through ball, in on the keeper and tucks it neatly away inside the right post. Bliss.

We did have four minutes of added time to sweat through , everybody back defending, but we did it.

As Stumpy says we did have the better of things in the first half but they got stronger and stronger with the quality of player they were able to bring on, so it was a bit of a rearguard battle towards the end.

We are such a better team when Andy Drury plays, what with all his professional technique that he brings to the team, and the tempo and direction he sets for us.

There were other good performances. Jake Goodman had his best game for us I felt but then the whole back four looked cohesive with Callum sweeping and young Toby Byron ( good signing there! ) bombing on when he could. Kane Penn looked far more comfortable at right back too I felt.

But MOTM has to be Joe Coleman. Two unbelievable saves late on to keep us in the game. He has a bright future in the game if he keeps this form going.

Up top Ira looked sharp when he came on for Regis and always looked threatening when in possesion. But the hero of the day has surely to be Luke Holness with that lovely late goal to send us all home happy.

So on to Tuesday night and Haringay Borough and another tough game for the lads but a win here would really get our season back on track. COYS!

[bollockchops]

Fair comments as usual from Gerry but I think mid-table mediocrity is the best our 'season back on track will be'. With regard to JC our 6ft 4in keeper he needs to rule the 6 yard box. I was told this 47 yrs ago as an aspiring 6ft 3in beanpole goalie in the Dover and District Sunday league playing for the Elephant and Hind. Being a good shot stopper was not enuf. U need to try and command the air. I failed so played cricket instead for Wootton and Denton and etchinghill. Best wishes to all at FIFC Keith in Hampshire

[finbarr_in_z]

The pitch was horrendous....

[benyoung1981]

Enjoyed that, can’t beat a 90th minute winner! Well done to the team and the coaches, tried a different line up/setup today and we looked a lot more solid, particularly in midfield. Tired towards the end but everyone put in a great shift. Deserved the applause at the end. It’s a start, onwards and upwards hopefully.

[finbarr_in_z]

Reasonable report from their forum btfcunofficial.freeforums.net/thread/1436/folkestone

If you don't have access, a copy / paste:

A real frustrating one today, not just with the last minute winner going against us but the overall performance that just lacked that extra spark for the first hour or so. Gary opted to make a couple of changes with Cerulli and Dench coming in, reverting back to one striker and Johnson and Ramsay at CB. The pitch was horrible and impossible to play any real football on and we quickly realised this and resorted to long balls towards Ade, who on the most part did OK but was often stranded alone against the Invicta stoppers. The first half was pretty even with Brad coming closest for us with a shot from the edge of the box whilst they had a couple flash across goal but neither keeper had to make a proper save.

The second half was much like the first until we made changes, Mo and Henshaw on for Cerulli and Dench, with Ramsay moving across to LB and changing to a front 2. We immediately got on the front foot and had a number of big chances that were either spurned wide or saved by their keeper (who won MOTM!). Porter made his return and was deployed down the left wing and despite a constant wave of decent looking attacks, one long ball beat our backline and their striker finished well. We huffed and puffed until the end but they held firm and nicked the points.

Overall a disappointing one although I did think we did OK on a tricky pitch and put together some nice moves later in the game but much like the Canvey game, a quick counter attack, combined with not sticking the ball in the net, led to our downfall. Monday will be awkward as I expect a lot of tired legs so perhaps we'll see a couple of changes. Still 4pts inside the playoffs, 1pt off 2nd with a game in hand on everyone up there so a win Monday will keep things looking nice as far as the table is concerned. COYB!

[stumpy]

The pitch was the same for both sides, no better for us than for them.

It's been pretty good this season - but the weather for the last couple of weeks had been horrendous (nice today), so I don't suppose it was possible to do any work on the pitch in that period.

[stumpy]

Nov 11, 2023 20:32:48 GMT gerryhan said:

We are such a better team when Andy Drury plays, what with all his professional technique that he brings to the team, and the tempo and direction he sets for us.

I thought he had an excellent game today, Gerry. I think he benefitted (and he wasn't the only one) from the shape we had today.

[Ads]

What a difference a week makes , really enjoyable game
To watch , would of been happy with a draw to
Be honest but we came away with the points , first time I’ve seen the new bar and what a transformation! Was really buzzing in there after the game will be nice when the outside bar is open to take a bit of pressure off the back bar during matches as there was a bit of queuing which is understandable given the size
Of the bumper crowd yesterday but all in all some really positive things going on at the club and long may it continue!

[gerryhan]

Stumpy of course adding a defensive midfielder (Moses) to the side helped enormously.

I still feel that we could have done with Ababbio down our right flank to match the energy down the left from young Toby.

But some progress definitely in terms of team make up and shape.
Need Drury every game if possible I feel to keep up the improvement.

COYS

[reddevil]

Great game for us, still a lot to do but feeling more optimistic. Goodman looked commanding and releases Moses into midfield position .Drury classy again and hopefully passing his knowledge onto Moses ,as I feel he will be needed in midfield when Dury is out.Ira also looked good when he came on ,must be pushing for a start IMO .More of the same + on Tuesday 👍

[philj]

No sign of 4-3-3, encouraged us to play more football and less hoofball. Pitch was aweful but first half we were the better side. Our goal came during a period of considerable pressure from them and was probably against the run of play.
I hope we persevere with this new formation, it will no doubt take time to perfect.
The question I would like the coaches to answer is why did it take them so long to make this change? Why was a new formation not tried before bringing in new players? Ibs will always score goals especially with good service. The wide right position was crying out for Ababio, I am yet to be convinced there is a clear well thought out plan.

[gerryhan]

Spot on with above post Phil.

I agree that had we changed formation earlier we could probably have saved the need for emergency signings.

[colash]

We will never know. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[finbarr_in_z]

Highlights

[finbarr_in_z]