IT’S HUGS FOR CUGS AS FOLKES FIGHT ON!
FOLKESTONE produced a thrilling comeback to shock a Hendon side whose lightning start to the second period looked to have set up victory.
Folkestone manager Neil Cugley was full of praise for his players’ remarkable exploits.
The long-serving Invicta boss told The NLP: “We showed great character. I think it was very important that we got a goal back so soon after going 2-0 down which gave us some momentum.”
“The players were great, their attitude was great and I was delighted to beat such a good side as Hendon.”
But Cugley was also full of praise for the visitors’ attacking prowess and in particular Niko Muir who scored both of the visitors’ goals just after half time.
He added: “Their front three were as good as I have seen at this level for some time and the lad that scored their two goals caused us trouble all afternoon and could well go on to play at a higher level.”
“But credit to our players for turning things around.”
The game had sprung into life with three goals within the opening six minutes of the second half.
Muir opened the scoring in the 47th minute when he struck from close range after Matt Ball had hit a free-kick into the Invicta wall.
It was 2-0 to Hendon in the 49th minute when Muir scored again after Zak Joseph had slipped the ball in to his striking partner.
Invicta pulled a goal back courtesy of a 51st minute penalty from top goalscorer Ade Yusuff after a foul by Hendon captain Arthur Lee on Josh Vincent.
Joshua Walker then shot against the post for Hendon after being put in by Michael Corcoran in the 57th minute.
Four minutes later, Joseph shot narrowly wide after a good turn, while Invicta striker Joe Taylor was denied by a superb save by Greens keeper Tom Lovelock two minutes later.
Invicta goalkeeper Tim Roberts then touched over a good 65th minute strike from Walker.
It was 2-2 in the 70th minute, Vincent thumping the ball into the net after being found by Taylor to whom the ball had fallen after Sam Hasler fired it in from the left wing.
The home side’s comeback was complete in the 84th minute when Taylor headed in a Vincent cross from the right in a move started by Yusuff and involving all three of the Folkestone scorers.
The best chance of the first half fell to Invicta’s Jordan Wright in the 15th minute. But Lovelock denied him and Taylor couldn’t force the rebound over the line.