Saturday 12th November 2022

 

Isuzu FA Trophy Second Round  

Beaconsfield Town 1 (4) Folkestone Invicta 1 (5)

Holloways Park Park - Attendance 132

 

Ram of the Match - Toby Little

 

Folkestone Invicta emerged from their first visit to Holloways Park with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory after the sides played out a competitive 1-1 draw after ninety minutes.

Having finished the 90 minutes the stronger the visitors had keeper Bailey Vose to thank as he dived low to his left to save Elliott Buchanan’s penalty, 

It was the only save of the shootout 

the afternoon began well for The Rams who were in the ascendancy early, Nathan Minhas, was narrowly beaten to a through ball by Vose. At the other end Ian Draycott saw his shot charged down by Keano Robinson on the edge of the box.

The visitors were a constant threat with their pace and looked to exploit the flanks at every opportunity but The Rams created the better quality opportunities as the half developed. Going close when Dan Bradshaw saw a low shot flash across goal and narrowly wide. 

It was no surprise when The Rams took the lead. Sam Togwell stepped in, to nick possession in midfield, fed Dan Bradshaw who shifted it on to Eitel Goueth down the right. His cross was left by Nathan Minhas for skipper Toby Little, just inside the box, who volleyed the ball into the turf sending it ballooning just under the bar giving Vose no chance.

The visitors responded immediately but Dolan didnt make clean contact with his strike which was comfortably saved by Ravan Constable. 

Dolan received a yellow card, for a clumsy challenge on Sam Granville leaving his feet and lunging in the fact that he got the ball and not the man probably saved him from further punishment.  

The Rams continued to press but Granville, Little and Nathan Minhas all fired off target when well placed.

The best chance came when Mathan Minhas met another Eitel Goueth cross six yards out but could not get over te ball which flashed narrowly over the bar.

Half time 1-0 

 

The visitors introduced, Ira Jackson half time replacing the on a caution Robbie Dolan but it was the home team who threatened first Minhas advancing to the angle of the area before sending in a low drive which Vose saved well plunging to his left 

Invicta were level on the hour and it was the increasingly influential Ira Jackson who got it home steering home a controlled volley which was the very least Nathan Green’s delicious left-wing cross deserved.

The visitors were flying and created some chaos in the Rams defence without creating another guilt-edged opportunity, Gary Meakin rang the changes and Eitel Goueth was replaced by Olly McCoy after Goueth picked up a knock. 

In a reverse of the first half, Beaconsfield sat in and tried to pick off Invicta on the break. 

Nathan Minhas blazed over, and Sam Granville capped a good run, with a cross, inches too high for Elliott Buchanan. Toby Little had a shot blocked by Matt Newman which caused The Rams to appeal loudly for handball, but the Referee who let the game go all afternoon was unmoved. 

As penalties approached Minhas made a chance from nothing, as he is wont to do, but his low shot on the turn flashed narrowly wide of the far post. 

At the other end Ravan Constable had to be at his very best to first save a looping Rogers cross shot before then swiping away the rebound before Ian Draycott could capitalise.  

In the end it was a game of Two halves with each side enjoying the best of one. The seasons’ records of both sides so far suggested it would be a close thing so arriving at penalties was no real surprise.

The shootout was equally close and the visitors prevailed with Vose’s save from Buchanan the difference.

No time to stew on the defeat though as The rams welcome Met Police FC to Holloways Park on Monday evening, kick off 7-45pm.  

Beaconsfield Town

R’avan Constable, Charlie Smith, Oliver Sprague (Elliott Buchanan, 74 mins), Liam McDevitt (Jacob Munting, 90 mins), Keano Robinson, Sam Togwell, Dan Bradshaw, Sam Granville, Nathan Minhas, Eitel Goueth (Olly McCoy, 64 mins), Toby Little ©  

Subs not used: Myles Anderson, Ben Peters, Kai Allsop, Luke Neville    

 

Folkestone Invicta: 

Bailey Vose, Josh Vincent (Capt), Nathan Green, Ian Gayle, Matt Newman, James Rogers, Robbie Dolan (Ira Jackson, 46 mins), Ronnie Dolan, Ibrahim Olutade, Ian Draycott & Kadell Daniel (Lenny Atherton, 57 mins), (Unused 

 

Subs not used: Micheal Everitt, Fin Dent & Cameron Davey.