Ryman League Division One South leaders Folkestone Invicta had to settle for a point when they drew 1-1 away to Horsham TMCA at a wet and muddy Gorings Mead on Saturday afternoon.

Invicta stretched their unbeaten league run to 11 matches and remain unbeaten away from home in all competitions so far this season, but will not count this as one of their better performances amid difficult conditions.

Captain Micheal Everitt opened the scoring for Invicta in the 76 th minute, but the lead was to last for only three minutes as substitute Steve Metcalf equalised for the home side.

The Folkestone side fielded the same starting line up for a ninth successive game, with striker Simon Austin among those passed fit as the very small squad had to overcome the effects of a recent busy fixture list.

But Invicta were forced into an early change when James Everitt went off with a hamstring problem.

And the visitors were unable on this occasion to reach the heights of recent home matches against Burgess Hill and Ramsgate.

It was a first half of few clear cut chances as home striker Shaheen Sadough chipped a 16 th minute ball across the Invicta goal from the left hand side of the penalty area.

There was a scare for home goalkeeper Tony Di-Bernardo in the 21 st minute when the ball hit a bobble and a back pass threatened to cross the line.

Invicta midfielder Darren Smith was booked for dissent in the 30 th minute as it was already turning into a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.

YM won the first corner of the game in the 31 st minute when a John Westcott cross from the right was put out of a play and a low Sadough shot lacked power two minutes later when Tom Lawley and Luke Gedling combined down the left.

Invicta left back Josh Burchell cleared from Westcott for a corner in the 38 th minute when Mike Huckett and Gedling worked the ball into the penalty area.

Visiting central defender Liam Dickson took the ball forward in the 44 th minute after receiving it from Jimmy Jackson and his 30-yard shot skidded across the wet surface and past the post.

Fellow Invicta defender Liam Friend then had to get back to tackle Terry Dodd during first half stoppage time when Huckett played the ball through and it carried to goalkeeper Jack Delo.

After the interval, Invicta substitute Peter Williams shot at home goalkeeper Di-Bernardo following a 56 th minute Burchell pass, while a Westcott cross from the right towards Huckett went out for a goal kick at the other end four minutes later.

Friend blocked in the 64 th minute when Lawley and Huckett combined.

Invicta had to wait until the 70 th minute to win their first corner of the game when Charlie Cooke played a Williams ball out.

Invicta did have the ball over the line in the 71st minute but were denied by an assistant referee's flag when Dickson got the final touch from close range after a Frankie Chappell header.

The home side responded as a Westcott shot was deflected over for another corner after Delo had come out a long way to meet a Gedling cross.

Invicta looked as though they may be on course to sneak all three points in the 77 th minute when captain EVERITT opened the scoring by turning the ball across goal and into the far corner of the net at the far post when Chappell headed on a Jackson corner from the right.

But YM were not finished as home captain Nigel Brake got forward a minute later but his cross from the left hand side flew in front of everybody in the middle of the penalty area.

And it was 1-1 in the 79 th minute when the Invicta defence appealed for offside and substitute METCALF was given space to rifle a low shot into the corner of the net.

The visitors had to clear from substitute Gavin Geddes in the 84 th minute when Westcott beat Burchell down the right and Delo lost the subsequent cross.

HORSHAM YMCA : Di-Bernardo, Watts, Brake, Gedling, Cooke, Cooney, Westcott, Huckett, Sadough (Metcalf 54 mins), Dodd (Geard 81 mins), Lawley (Geddes 67 mins). Unused subs : Pulling, Manton.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith, Dickson, J. Everitt (Williams 24 mins), Austin, Jackson. Unused subs : Dryden, Driscoll, Dix.

Attendance : 151.