Folkestone Invicta vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Tuesday 11th November, 7.45 pm
Cray Wanderers look to defend an unbeaten away league record in the Isthmian Premier this season on Tuesday evening as the Wands head to league leaders Folkestone Invicta. Ko: 7.45pm
The match sees the first of two Kent derbies this week with Cray travelling to Welling United on Saturday but the immediate attention must be to focus on the challenge of Folkestone who have impressively moved to the top of the league having won ten of their fourteen games and have amassed 33 points.
The Wands still are proving a hard side to beat but on Saturday had to be content with a point after a goalless draw with Chichester City at Flamingo Park, the ninth draw of the season but have now gone six without a win in the league but the first clean sheet since the win at Billericay in August.
There were some positives with the performance particularly defensively and the return of Frankie Morgan, signed from Folkestone in the summer from injury was a major plus making the team with the exception of keeper Harry Seaden almost near full strength for Tim O’Shea.
The Wands can take confidence from the performance against Folkestone at Flamingo Park on 12th August with an entertaining game finishing 1-1 with Nods Bobomurodov’s clever lofted finish cancelled out by a Kweku Lucan strike but Cray hit the woodwork near the end and played well on the night.
Jay Saunders’ Invicta side have after a short period away from Cheriton Road whilst a new 3G pitch was laid hit the road running and have won their last three league games. On Saturday Folkestone made it back to back 3-0 wins away from home at Potters Bar Town with Joe Pigott, Dean Rance and Ade Yussuf scoring to move Folkestone ahead of Brentwood Town at the top. Invicta also reached the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and are through to the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy.
At home including a couple of games at Margate FC, Folkestone have beaten St Albans City (2-1), Whitehawk (4-1), Lewes (6-0) and Billericay Town (2-1) and drawn with Dulwich Hamlet (2-2). Away from home Invicta who have played more games away won at Canvey Island (2-0), Chatham Town (2-1), Aveley (5-2), Burgess Hill Town (3-2), Welling United (3-0) and Potters Bar Town (3-0). They drew at Chichester City and Cray Wanderers and the only defeat came at Hashtag United on 28th October.
In the FA Cup, Folkestone beat Sevenoaks Town (3-0) and Maidstone United (2-0) and at Horsham (3-2) before bowing out at National League Southend United (1-4). In the Trophy, Folkestone have won at AFC Dunstable (3-1) and Burgess Hill Town (4-1) to set up a home tie with AFC Totton on Saturday in the 2nd Round. Joe Pigott most recently with Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon is the leading scorer with eight goals.
This promises to be a tough challenge for Cray but the Wands have been durable and resilient away from home, three times scoring equalisers in added time and should be a cracking game under the lights and on the 3G surface.
ADMISSION COSTS & DIRECTIONS TO FOLKESTONE INVICTA
Alcaline Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU
Adult: — £15.00
Concessions/Students/Disabled/Blue Lights: – £12.00
Juniors: 17-11 y/o – £ 8.00
U5’s with paying adult – Free
Card or cash payments will be accepted, although if possible, and if you are paying by cash please have the right money available. Card Payments can only be made at the Bar Invicta end.
Pitch: 3G
Printed Programme:
BY ROAD
From the Cray’s – From the A20/Sidcup-by-Pass follow for 3.9 miles and then keep right to join the M20 and follow for 50 miles following signs for Dover/Channel Tunnell/Maidstone. At Junction 13 take the A20 exit to Folkestone. Continue to drive along the A2034 then turn left at the 2nd set of Traffic lights and you will be able to see the stadium about 100 metres on the left (Just past the Harvey Grammer school.
Considering the game is a midweek match you might want to give a bit more time for your journey factoring in traffic and could take between 1 hr 5 mins/1 hr 40 for the 57.5 miles trip.
By train:
The nearest stations are: Folkestone West and Folkestone Central. Folkestone West is marginally nearer. From the station, walk east on Station Road towards and then on to Beachborough Road/B2064. Then turn right onto Cheriton Road and after 0.2 miles turn left for the ground.
From Folkestone Central – Walk east towards and onto Folkestone Station Road, then turn left onto Cheriton Road/A259, then at the roundabout take the 4th exit onto Cheriton Road/A2034 for 0.5 miles and then turn right for the ground.
For train travel you can go from Orpington but no direct trains to either West or Central station. Your journey will require a change at either Sevenoaks or Ashford at 22 or 52 past the hour. From Bromley South you can also change at Ashford International but overall quite a longish journey by train midweek with trains at 12, 42 and 57 past the hour.
There are high speed services from Ebbsfleet International which take 35 minutes running at 23 or 56 past the hour. There are returns at 22.01 and 23.01.
Please check trains at www.nationalrail.co.uk for your best options.
The last train back to Bromley South after the game leaves Folkestone West at 22.01 or Central at 21:59 requiring a change at Ashford International or Tonbridge. Best to check national rail enquiries website prior to travel.
By bus:
Buses to Cheriton run every eight minutes from the town centre (bus station) on weekdays.
Service Nos. 71, 72, 73 – Get off just past Morrisons Supermarket.
Nearest pub: Perhaps best on a midweek match to make full use of Bar Invicta.
This is situated on the main Cheriton Road directly in front of the stadium. There is ample parking in front of the Bar and has been fully refurbished. There is a disabled entrance at the front and has disabled toilet facilities. There are two bars with a function room.
From Folkestone Central you will find The Park Inn on Radnor Road, The Radnor Arms (Christ Church Road) or the Firkin Alehouse (a renovated former Estate Agents, now a micropub) on Cheriton Place. For Wetherspoon’s fans there is the Samuel Peto in Rendevouz Street which is about a five minute drive from Cheriton Road.
Folkestone is a port town on the edge of the South Downs and a prominent part of the English defences against French invaders. A harbour was introduced during the 19th century and also good railway links to London and Kent gave good business to the area and became a popular holiday destination. If you’ve time, the cliffs are well worth a visit and has at the top a Martello Tower which was built in 1806 as a look out should Napoleon invade and has been a coast guard lookout and a Second World War Naval mine control post. The Brockhill Country Park in Saltwood between Folkestone and Hythe is part of a Kentish area of natural beauty. There is also the oldest Battle of Britain Museum in the UK in nearby Hawkinge and the Battle of Britain Memorial on the White Cliffs is testament to the battering Kent took over the skies during the War. Overlooking the Channel Tunnel entrance is the carving of the Folkestone White Horse which can be a spectacular sight.
