Leyton 0-1 Folkestone Invicta

An 84th minute header from James Everitt gave Folkestone Invicta all three points as they made it six successive away wins and nine matches unbeaten in all competitions.

Just as at Windsor & Eton in a F. A. Cup replay, EVERITT headed in the only goal of the game, this time with some aplomb when captain Roland Edge played in a good free kick following a foul on substitute Damian Abel.

The younger Everitt brother was playing in midfield at the Leyton Stadium but has also played in defence and attack for Invicta this season. In this game he was wearing the number nine shirt and the finish was worthy of a centre forward. .

The home side were left to rue missed chances of their own, particularly during the first half and stoppage time.

Invicta started with a 5-3-2 formation as centre half Frankie Chappell came back into the starting line up for Abel.

But it was the home side who had the first chance when John Paul Collier hit a well-struck shot just over the crossbar after six minutes when Solomon Henry sent the game’s first corner over from the left and the ball eventually came back out to the edge of the penalty area.

At the other end, a dangerous 11th minute ball in from James Everitt on the left just eluded both Chappell and Edge at the far post and Micheal Everitt headed just over a minute later when Edge headed the ball on at the far post when Kevin Watson sent in a good ball from the right.

Right back Billy Hawes put in a good 15th minute ball but just in front of the in-coming Leyton forwards following a one-two with Henry, while striker Billy Bricknell tried his luck from 30 yards but shot wide of the post four minutes later.

Striker Tobi Oshitola missed the clearest chance of the game thus far when he shot wide after being played in down the left hand side of the penalty area by tom McGowan after 24 minutes.

An overhead Leigh Bremner strike cleared the crossbar in the 32nd minute when Mark Saunders nodded on a long James Everitt throw in from the left.

But the home side were having the better of the first half chances and former Ashford Town and Dover Athletic defender Marc Cumberbatch should have scored at the far post after 35 minutes when Henry played the ball in following a corner on the right.

Invicta goalkeeper Charlie Mitten got across to save a well-struck shot drilled in by Hawes from the right after 41 minutes and Henry shot at Mitten just before half time.

Invicta replaced Saunders with Ellis Remy at half time as Corbett dropped back into midfield.

James Everitt couldn’t quite guide his header in this time after 52 minutes when Watson and Corbett combined down the right.

Invicta centre half Liam Friend got across to clear at the expense of a corner when Stefan Cox broke down the left hand side after 59 minutes and Bricknell’s header lacked power from Cox’s subsequent set piece.

Micheal Everitt fired wide when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box after 61 minutes and younger brother James was close in a goalmouth scramble following a Watson free kick from the right four minutes later.

Invicta reverted to a 4-3-3 formation when Abel replaced the injured Corbett after 70 minutes.

And the game seemed to be heading for a repeat of the 0-0 draw in last season’s corresponding fixture until Everitt’s late winner.

Bricknell fired over with a gilt-edged chance to equalise for Leyton when Cox played the ball in during stoppage time when Chappell was caught in possession.

And Bricknell then headed over from a Henry cross.

There was still time for Invicta’s Watson to hit a well-struck shot over the crossbar from 35 yards before the Folkestone squad celebrated their recent good run with a night out at the greyhound meeting at nearby Walthamstow.

Leyton’s Cumberbatch was booked for kicking the ball away before the free kick from which Invicta scored and the visitors’ Bremner was also cautioned for a late 58th minute challenge on Hawes.

LEYTON: Lunan, Hawes, McGowan, Gracey, Cumberbatch, Alderton, Henry, Collier, Oshitola (Osei-Owusui 88 mins), Bricknell, Cox.  Unused subs: Thomas, Lee, Gradosielski, Roberts.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Mitten, Watson, Edge, Chappell, Friend, Okikiolu, M. Everitt, Saunders (Remy 45 mins), J. Everitt, Bremner, Corbett (Abel 70 mins).  Unused subs: Briggs, Sly, Stonebridge.