MATCH REPORT - Folkestone Invicta - 01/11/25

Folkestone Invicta 2 (Rance 19, Hutchinson 62) – Billericay Town 1 (Nash 59)

Jake Hutchinson’s second-half header ensured Folkestone Invicta maintained their strong start to the season, edging past Billericay Town 2-1 at the Alcaline Stadium. The forward’s goal arrived just three minutes after Liam Nash had levelled for Danny Scopes’ side, leaving the Blues still searching for their first away league win since August.

Under blue skies in Kent, Jay Saunders’ men made the brighter start and thought they had gone ahead inside seven minutes when Hutchinson beat Sam Donkin to a loose ball and rolled into the empty net, only for the referee to penalise him for handball.

Jack Evans registered Billericay’s first effort of the afternoon, but his strike from distance was comfortably seen wide by Ted Collins. At the other end, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb made a crucial block to deny Joe Pigott after Ryan Scott was dispossessed inside the box, though the reprieve was short-lived.

From the resulting corner, Ike Orji’s delivery was nodded down by Pigott into the path of Dean Rance, who turned the ball past Donkin to give Invicta the lead.

Chances were limited for the visitors in a scrappy first half. Frankie Merrifield looped a header over midway through, while captain Matt Johnson saw his header drift narrowly wide before the break as Folkestone held a one-goal advantage.

The hosts resumed on the front foot, with Hutchinson and Donell Thomas both going close early in the second period. Yet the Blues struck back on 59 minutes, as Merrifield’s persistence unsettled Collins and the loose ball broke kindly for Nash to turn home from close range.

But the parity was short-lived. Three minutes later, former Blues defender Orji whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, and Hutchinson rose highest to send a looping header over Donkin to restore Invicta’s lead.

As the rain began to fall, Scopes’ side pushed forward in search of a second equaliser, but long-range efforts from Johnson and substitute Tyrese Owen were both comfortably saved by Collins. Invicta debutant Adam Lovatt fired over late on, and despite some late Billericay pressure, the home side held firm to secure the points.

Folkestone Invicta: Collins; Orji, Odeniran, Lokko, Mason; Smith, Rance (Dolan 46), Lovatt; Thomas (Berry 85), Pigott, Hutchinson (Strouts 79)

Subs not used: McKenzie, Jebb

Billericay Town: Donkin; Barnum-Bobb (Semakula 73), Scott, Johnson, Porter; Miller-Rodney (Owen 73), Evans; Nash, Long (Hockey 80), Oudnie-Morgan (Cerulli 68); Merrifield (Collis 80)

Subs not used: N/A

Referee: Joshua Williams

Attendance: 1,295

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