Folkestone Invicta had to settle for a point from Saturday’s trip to Croydon Athletic despite taking a first minute lead through captain James Dryden.

Dryden struck within 18 seconds from the start at the KT Stadium, but substitute Reece Wilson equalised for the home side in the 76th minute.

The home side then had assistant manager Neil Smith sent off during stoppage time for an elbow on James Everitt.

Following Tuesday night’s Kent Senior Cup drubbing at Welling, Invicta were in need of a confidence boost. And the visitors got off to a perfect start as straight from the kick off, James Everitt exchanged passes with Kieran Byrne and then played the ball in from the right for DRYDEN to strike home.

Dryden has now scored in each of Invicta’s last five Ryman League Division One South fixtures and has now scored 18 goals in all competitions so far this season and a record 132 in his two spells with the club.

It was the second time in three weekends that Dryden had struck immediately as it had taken him just 12 seconds to open the scoring at home to Godalming on January 31st.

The only downside for Invicta is that on both occasions they could not add a second goal and ended up winning neither game.

Croydon themselves were perhaps slightly rusty as they had not played a competitive fixture since January 31st due to the weather.

Team news saw Invicta without the quality of Jimmy Jackson (back), but with Jack Delo back in goal and both Darren Smith and Liam Friend also back in the starting line up after missing Tuesday night’s game at Welling.

The home side gave debuts to defender Joe Howe and striker Sol Pinnock.

The absent Jackson had scored a wonder goal when Invicta drew 2-2 against the Rams at the Buzzlines Stadium back in October on a night when the Folkestone side had both James Everitt and Matt Bourne sent off.

‘Ratty’ Everitt partnered Dryden in attack despite suffering from a knee injury and both were involved in the early goal.

Home captain Danny Waldren shot over from outside the penalty area on the heavily sanded pitch in the seventh minute.

But Invicta held the lead and Robbie Ryan blocked Josh Vincent’s 29th minute shot following a break involving Friend, James Everitt and Byrne after a free kick at the other end.

A good 37th minute ball in from Micheal Everitt then flew just in front of younger brother James in the goalmouth.

At the other end, a Pinnock free kick was cleared for a corner in the 40th minute following a foul by Josh Burchell on Jeremy Williams which led to the Croydon player having to go off.

But Invicta threatened again in the 42nd minute when Vincent played the ball into the penalty area, Dryden went down, the visitors appealed for handball, Burchell tried to force the ball in from close range and eventually a Micheal Everitt header was cleared for a corner by Waldren.

Waldren shot wide for Croydon from the right hand side of the penalty area just after the interval, while home goalkeeper Ross Flitney touched over Micheal Everitt’s 48th minute shot from just outside the box for a corner.

Richard Blackwell then headed Waldren’s 53rd minute free kick from the right over the bar.

Home centre half Bradley Duke was booked for a strong challenge on James Everitt in the 57th minute.

Everitt then couldn’t quite dribble the ball into the net from close range a minute later.

Dryden made room for himself and shot wide from outside the penalty area in the 59th minute and James Everitt shot at Flitney from the right hand side of the penalty area a minute later.

Jeremiah Olusanya was booked for a 60th minute challenge on Burchell and Invicta also lost Byrne to injury.

It was then Invicta’s turn to fall foul of the officials as both James Everitt and Smith were booked for dissent.

Croydon centre half Duke was then lucky to stay on the pitch for a push on substitute Joe Neilson which initially seemed certain to lead to a second yellow card from referee Mr L J Rendell in the 67th minute.

A low James Everitt shot forced a corner from Flitney in the 71st minute following a Burchell pass and Croydon substitute Smith was then booked for a late challenge on Vincent.

But the home side were level in the 76th minute when a Waldren cross from the right was met by WILSON’s header which hit the post and rolled across the line before going in.

The home side now pressed for a winner as an 80th minute Waldren shot deflected off centre half Liam Dickson and over the crossbar for a corner.

Invicta goalkeeper Delo then got down to save a well-struck Waldren shot a minute later.

Visiting substitute Neilson was booked in the 84th minute for catching Howe.

Croydon substitute Shabazz Baidoo cut in from the right in the 87th minute but his shot was blocked by Dickson.

Baidoo cut in again from the right during stoppage time and shot at Delo, with fellow substitute Wilson also sending a dangerous ball into the Invicta penalty area.

Croydon’s Smith then received his marching orders deep into stoppage time and Invicta almost grabbed a last-ditch winner with virtually the last kick of the game when Neilson shot at Flitney following a Smith corner on the right.

CROYDON ATHLETIC: Flitney, Howe, Ryan, Williams (Smith 41 mins), Duke, Blackwell, Bolarinwa (Baidoo 45 mins), Waldren, Pinnock, Olusanya, Makofo (Wilson 71 mins). Unused subs: Green, Peck.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, J. Everitt, Burchell, Chappell, Friend, Dickson, M. Everitt, Byrne (Neilson 61 mins), Dryden, Smith, Vincent. Unused subs: Swallow, Egan.

Attendance: 164.