Folkestone Invicta have been crowned Ryman Division One South Champions after a ruthless 6-0 demolishing of Walton and Hersham.

Neil Cugley’s side went into the game knowing that three points that afternoon would confirm their status as champions after setting the pace in the league from early in the season. Invicta had not lost in 2016 and went into the game full of confidence having seven goals in their last three games.

Cugley kept the same starting eleven from his team’s 2-1 win against Worthing, meaning attacker Harry Smith remained on the bench. Invicta knew they needed to take the chance they had been given, for the last four seasons they had faced playoff heartbreak but they had a chance to resolve those defeats.

The visitors had experienced a hugely contrasting season to Folkestone, they needed every point available to stay up after finding themselves in the final relegation place at the start of the day, mainly due to their inability to find a win since January.

As expected, Folkestone began as the better side, within the opening six minutes Phil Starkey as able to steer a corner from Ronnie Dolan towards goal, but his effort was held by Liam Beach.

Despite the visitor’s best efforts, they were unable to truly get anything going. Despite getting into the right positions, they were struggling to finish attacks due to the lack of a decisive final pass.

The early pressure went on and, after a quick free kick fell to the feet of Scott Heard who was able slide a shot past Beach, only for Gary MacDonald to clear the ball off the line. Just one minute later the league leaders were able to take the lead when Carl Rook’s shot was blocked for a corner. Frankie Chappell leapt highest at the near post to convert Dolan’s set piece.

After a quiet period in the first half, the hosts soon retained control of the game, Ashley Miller cut inside, only for his shot to be deflected wide but, with minutes left in the half, Walton’s Edvardas Gaurilovas’ tricky footwork allowed him to find Olakunle Akinwande who couldn’t keep his shot from the edge of the area down, meaning Folkestone went into half time 1-0 up, just 45 minutes from being confirmed as champions.

It took just three minutes after the break for Folkestone to double their lead when a through ball from midfield fell perfectly into the path of Carl Rook who slotted the opportunity home.
The floodgates soon opened and the chances kept coming for the soon to be champions, Scott Heard was given space to shoot, but his effort flew over before his side found their third thanks to some horrible defending. A long ball forward wasn’t dealt with by either of Walton’s central defenders, allowing Ian Draycott to latch onto the loose ball and place in Folkestone’s third.

Just seven minutes later Rook was on the scoresheet again, this time Draycott found himself under pressure in the area before finding his strike partner in space across the six yard box, allowing Rook to put in the easiest chance he’ll have all season.

Walton and Hersham finally forced a save from Tim Roberts when Kambo Smith tested the goalkeeper from close range, but by then it was too late. Scott Heard had another chance, putting a volley across the face of goal before the rightful winners of the league went on to score two goals in two minutes. Jordan Wright’s effort from long range evaded Liam Beach before Harry Smith was able to get onto the end of an aerial through ball before chipping the goalkeeper to make it 6-0, meaning Folkestone were able to be confirmed as champions with five games remaining.

The first of those five games is an all Kent fixture at Herne Bay on Easter Monday before Invicta travel to Sussex to face Peacehaven and Telscombe, but before then there is plenty of celebrating to do from a very deserving Invicta side.

Michael Everitt, the club’s record appearance holder spoke after the game of his joy: “It’s a great feeling, obviously we’ve had heartbreak in the playoffs over the last few years but to have won the league as convincingly as we have is a great testament to the players and the staff. The Club deserves it”

The midfielder also gave praise to Neil Cugley, who has been at Cheriton Road since 1997. “It’s a great achievement [for Cugley], over one thousand games in charge speaks for itself. Loyalty doesn’t always happen but he’s been loyal to this football club and that has been shown by the support he’s been given”

But Everitt doesn’t believe this needs to be the peak of the club’s success, “I think next year we’ll kick on again. We’re definitely ready this time. I don’t think the club should look at safety…  Our aim has got to be higher than that, we need to set our expectations higher”

Folkestone Invicta: Roberts, Vincent, Blanks, Friend, Chappell, Dolan, Starkey (Everitt), Heard (Wright), Draycott, Rook (Smith), Miller

Subs not used: Pilbeam, Newman

Walton and Hersham: Beach, Newton, Miller, MacDonald (Smith), Janilionis, Casey, Akinwande, Guarilovas, Chendlik (Castello), M’Bengui (Sullivan), Salako

Subs not used: Leoches- Teixeira, Corbett

Attendance: 1,545