Blues suffer late defeat at the hands of high-flying Invicta

By Aaron Toubian

Wingate & Finchley fell to their first home defeat since the start of September, as Joel-Michael Odeniran’s late header secured a sixth consecutive league win for leaders, Folkestone Invicta.

After a cagey first half an hour, the Blues were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead. Caoilan McGettigan glided past multiple Folkestone defenders, but struck the crossbar from close range, moments before Ayyuba Jambang’s testing strike was parried away by Ted Collins.

Nine minutes after the restart, Joe Pigott forced a strong save from Jamie Grossart in the Wingate goal, who replaced an injured Charlie Grainger. The Folkestone frontman unleashed from 25-yards out, but the shot was well turned away by the Essex keeper.

Just before the hour mark, the visitors introduced striker Ade Yusuff, and recent Wingate hero, Loïc Hernandez, entered the fray moments later.

Ahmet Rifat’s men began to pile on the pressure, with ten minutes left to play. Charlie Stallard delivered a wonderful through ball for Casey Shann, who crossed into the path of Gianluca Botti, but the Blues’ number nine was unable to provide the finishing touch.

Six minutes later, Invicta finally broke the Wingate resistance, as Joel-Michael Odeniran rose highest to head home Jack Jebb’s pinpoint corner.

The result sends Folkestone four points ahead of Brentwood Town in second position, whilst the Blues sit in 11th, following two straight defeats. Amazingly, there are currently just eight points separating Cray Wanderers in sixth and Chichester City in 17th

We welcome Billericay Town to Summers Lane on Saturday afternoon, with kick-off at 3pm. Tickets are now available for purchase on our club website.

MOTM: Billy Cracknell

Attendance: 194

Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.