Reporter: William Powell [Ed says – thank you – not a great one to have had to cover]
Folkestone started the game on the front foot, looking threatening down the right wing. Khale Da Costa opened the scoring for the hosts in the 18th minute, slotting past Mark Scott into the far corner. Scott then made a phenomenal save to deny a Folkestone 2nd before the onslaught began.
George Lock, under pressure, attempted to clear the ball but his clearance took a wild deflection off Jamie Mascoll and looped over Scott in the Ascot net. George Butler was then booked in the 41st minute for a cynical foul on the edge of the box, leaving Invicta with a free kick in a promising position. Fortunately for the left back, the free kick cannoned into the wall.
Invicta added a 3rd in the 44th minute after Joe Gater was sloppily dispossessed at the back, before Amadou Kassarate ran towards goal and fired home easily. Just a minute later, Folkestone scored a 4th. This time, Dan Smith picked the ball up straight from kick off and rifled a thunderbolt Scott. And if that wasn’t enough, Folkestone were awarded a late penalty after Scott committed a foul inside the area. Striker Smith coolly slotted his penalty straight down the middle. A mental spell of football and some calamitous errors meant Invicta scored 3 goals in 10 minutes and went into the break 5-0 up.
The second half was a much better showing by Ascot. Aiden Payne-James made a massive impact off the bench. However, Smith sealed his hat-trick in the 52nd minute with a composed finish past Scott. Eight minutes later Ascot netted a consolation goal. Payne-James did incredibly well, weaving past multiple defenders, before a powerful effort firing goalwards which could only be parried by Henly into the path of Sean McCormack, who fired home on the goal line (pictured, shooting-star.co.uk). Connor Holland entered the referee’s book in the 82nd minute after a late challenge on Kassaraté.
But the hosts were not done and Abouhadje Evans Kouassi netted 2 late goals to send Folkestone Invincta through to the next round in style.
Full Time: Folkestone Invicta 8-1 Ascot United