Canvey Island compete their second of three successive away games on Saturday, as they travel down to the Kent coast to face Folkestone Invicta in the Isthmian League Premier.

Our Opponents
Invicta are enjoying a good season in the Isthmian Premier, though are short of where many expected them to be at this point in the campaign. After a summer of good recruitment on the pitch, they are currently 12 points shy of their playoff target at the time of writing, buried in the mid-table melee enveloping much of the division this year.

Their recent form is reflective of their current position, with just two wins from their last six games. With the big freeze postponing everything on grass in the league last weekend, their last match came back on Tuesday 7th January - and saw them fall to a damaging 4-0 defeat at home to safety chasing Cheshunt.

There is still much of the season left to play however, and manager Andy Drury still has pound for pound one of the best squads in the division on paper. The experienced Jonathan Henly is a consistent presence in goal, while likes of Gavin Hoyte and Ian Gayle marshall the defence. Dean Rance and Jack Febb add creative flair in midfield, but it is in attack though is where their true power is evident, with the likes of Tom Derry and the recently returning Ade Yusseff both knowing where the back of the net is. And out wide, they boast former Canvey fan favourite Evans Kouassi, who has hit 3 goals in his last 4 games after returning from a loan spell at Bowers & Pitsea.

The Gulls
Canvey meanwhile, will be looking to get back to winning ways in the league themselves after a dismal run of four straight defeats, the last of those coming against Potters Bar Town at home in a 2-1 reverse.

Despite Kane Gilbert pulling a goal back for the Gulls in the 2nd half, a poor opening 45 minutes couldn't be overturned, leaving Canvey now perched just four points above the drop zone in an ever shifting league table - albeit with two games in hand on some of the teams around them.

They got some respite in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday however, as they set up a home semi final against Chelmsford City after a penalty shootout win away at Isthmian North side Brightlingsea Regent.
Jamie Salmon gave Canvey the lead late in the first half, but an equaliser from the hosts took the game to spot kicks. The Gulls converted all three of their kicks, with Bobby Mason saving his first before two more of the home teams kicks were missed.

The two sides have already met once this season at the Steves Taxis Stadium, where a close fought game saw the visitors take a narrow 1-0 win, courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from Bradley Sach.

***
Yellow Army, thank you for your support over the last few weeks, even with the intermittent nature of matches caused by recent postponements. A special thanks to those of you who made the long trip to Brightlingsea on Tuesday - not the easiest place to get to midweek - and we hope that Quarter Final win was a good reward to take you back to the Island.

With two more huge league fixtures remaining in January, both on the road, we hope you can bring the noise down to Kent on Saturday as we look to bring the points back home with us.

We wish everyone travelling a safe and easy journey down to Folkestone.

Come on you Gulls!

Kick Off - 3:00pm

Admission Prices*
Adults - £12
Concessions - £9
Young Adult (13-17) - £6
U12s - FREE

Advance Tickets
https://tickets.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk/event/folkestone-invicta-v-canvey-island-v78i9p

Address
The Alcanline Stadium
Cheriton Road Sports Ground
Cheriton Road, Folkestone
Kent
CT19 5JU

Supporters Coach
We will be running a supporters coach for this match. Tickets are priced at £18pp.
To reserve your place, please contact Gary Sutton on 07790 025 828.

Parking
Free parking is available at the Cheriton Road Sports Ground. Match parking is NOT available to the neighboring Morrisons.

Train
Folkestone West (southeastern) 0.5m

Bus
Harvey Grammar School (71a / 971 / 973)