As the line-up suggested City made a positive start to the game. As early as the third minute a lofted Tim Wooding free kick found Matt Clements in the box but his shot was charged down on the edge of the six yard box.
Folkestone were struggling to settle or develop any passing rhythm as City looked to impose themselves on the game. However, with only three minutes on the clock, Hayes, in the centre circle, laid the ball wide to Shane Wardley. His pass was under-hit and the alert Darren Smith stole in. He played a ground pass through the centre of the City defence into the path of Allan Tait. The pacy number 10 accelerated to beat Martin Davies to the ball, round the Lilywhites ‘keeper and slot the ball into the empty net despite a despairing lunge by Colin Vowden.
Fortunately for City Folkestone made little attempt to capitalise on this advantage and were content to let the home side take the game to them.
The speed of Clements, the strength of Collins and the craft of Wilkin were all in evidence but despite a succession of promising openings and half chances City failed to punish a very shaky Folkestone back line.
City’s pressure also brought a succession of corners which were generally all too comfortable for the visitors to deal with however on 24 minutes, a variation in routine saw Wooding find Wilson but the midfielder fired over.
In a rare break on the half hour the impressive Darren Smith combined with Allen Tait to allow James Dryden a left wing crossing opportunity which Martin Davies forced behind for a corner.
On 32 minutes Hayes cleverly played Wilkin in behind the defence, his low cross found Collins who again saw his close range effort charged down. City were now starting to show the extra quality required to reward their endeavour. In a three minute spell they completely changed the course of the game. More good work by Wilkin on the left found Richard Skelly who had got forward well to support the attack. Skelly pulled the ball back from the by-line, accurately picking out Matt Clements who got in front of the last defender to slide the ball into the corner of the net.
With the Folkestone defence still reeling a couple of minutes later the impressive Skelly again picked up possession wide on the left. He cleverly spotted Darren Collins peeling off the last defender and played an angled ball into the path of the skipper. As the keeper advanced Collins brought the ball under control and fired into the top left hand corner of the net to open his Milton Road account.
With half time approaching Folkestone attempted to hit back but Davies smothered a loose ball played into the box and Colin Vowden made a couple of timely interceptions in what was another commanding display by the City centre back.
As in last Tuesday’s match against Dover, City failed to discover their rhythm after the break as the game became disjointed. Folkestone started to apply more pressure but lacked the quality in the final third to impose themselves on the game.
Most of the early exchanges took place in the middle third of the pitch where the immaculate Che Wilson gave City’s play a bite and authority lacking in the first two home games of the season.
On 55 minutes Richard Skelly swung a quality ball in from the left which deceived Dave Wietecha, leaving Matt Clements clear on goal. Unfortunately the ball appeared to bounce awkwardly for the winger and Steve Haffner was able to wrestle it off him. In the following minute a teasing Clements cross caused confusion in the Folkestone six yard box but fortunately for the visitors the ball fell kindly and they were able to clear.
On the hour mark City carved out the best chance of the half. A good ball into the box by Jack Wignall allowed Kevin Wilkin to cushion a header into the path of Darren Collins but with the Milton Road faithful anticipating a third goal the striker rolled the ball wide of the left-hand upright.
The only booking of the night, in a game that referee Mr Buck allowed to flow to good effect, came a couple of minutes later when James Dryden was high and late on Colin Vowden. With twenty minutes left the City bench looked on anxiously as Jack Wignall came off the worst in a 50/50 challenge with Dryden however, in an unrelated incident the referee simultaneously noticed a hole in the City net which ultimately appeared to be fixed by the versatile Davies, the resultant 5 minute hold-up allowing the Lilywhites full back to make a complete recovery.
As the visitors strived for an equaliser Martin Chandler replaced Steve Rastarick with about 18 minutes left on the clock. His first meaningful contribution was to hit a long range effort high and wide of the target. City were now being pressed back but defended resolutely. Vowden got better and better as the game went on and on the one occasion the visitors managed to find the target Davies got down well to his left to deal with a low shot from Dryden. John Ayling was introduced in place of John Guest but there was nothing Folkestone could do to force there way back into the game.
As City attempted to run down the clock Steve Thacker replaced Kevin Wilkin, soon to be followed by Rob Nightingale who filled in for Richard Skelly. Deep into injury time Thacker forced a good save from Wietecha and Collins fired the loose ball narrowly over. City cleverly retained possession in the closing stages and held out for all three points.
The performance may not live long in the memory but with Halesowen at Milton Road on Saturday this result should prove an important platform for City to build on.
