Alfie Foster’s 75th-minute strike earned the Hoops a confidence-boosting win over Bostik Isthmian Premier Division Folkestone Invicta on Monday night.
Foster, who had come on as a substitute 12 minutes earlier, ended a Deal breakaway by firing a low shot past Invicta ‘keeper Joe Coleman to cap the Hoops’ best performance so far of their pre-season campaign.
But Derek Hares’ side had to weather a shaky opening against a Folkestone side who came racing out of the blocks and could easily have been a couple of goals ahead after the opening 10 minutes. Instead it was Deal who went in front with their first effort on goal after 11 minutes when Coleman allowed Ben Cardwell’s shot from outside the box to slip through his grasp and into the corner of the net.
That helped to settle the Hoops down and although Invicta, with trialist and Sandwich Town cricketer Rory Smith impressing upfront, continued to look dangerous going forward it was the home side who scored again through a 25th-minute penalty. Cardwell was tripped by Matt Newman and Dave Pilcher coolly converted from the spot.
Invicta looked rattled at finding themselves two goals behind and the scoreline remained that way until half-time thanks to an athletic tip-over save by James Tonkin from Josh Vincent’s overhead kick just before the break.
Invicta boss Neil Cugley brought on Alfie Paxman the twin brother of former Hoops defender Jack Paxman, at the start of the second half and within two minutes Alfie had reduced the deficit after Deal failed to clear a corner.
Hares also made one change at half-time, bringing on Henry Newcombe in goal for Tonkin, and Henry was kept busy in the opening stages of the second half as Invicta went in search of an equaliser. And it finally came just before the hour mark when Paxman snapped up the loose ball after Newcombe had initially made a superb block from Johan Ter Horst’s shot.
Hares responded by making four more substitutions and although Invicta continued to look dangerous, it was the Hoops who had the final say through Foster in front of a crowd of 204 at the Charles Ground.
Deal: Tonkin (Newcombe 46), Alexander, O’Brien, Hark (Bigginton 63), Smith, Maughan, Chapman, Murray (Foster, 63 mins), Coyne, Cardwell (Howard 70) Pilcher (Lewis 70).
