A memorable occasion at the Buzzlines Stadium saw Croydon Athletic confirmed as Ryman League Division One South champions as the visitors got the point that they needed in front of a 2134 crowd after both towns had paid tribute to Rifleman Peter Aldridge of A Company 4 Rifles, who had died in an explosion in Afghanistan back in January.

He was aged just 19 and was the 250 th UK serviceman to die in the campaign and the division's two best sides this season marked their top-of-the-table clash as the perfect chance to pay their respects as he had moved from Croydon to Folkestone a couple of years ago.

The result left Croydon Athletic celebrating their title win and condemned Invicta to the play-offs after the Folkestone club had ten points deducted earlier in the season for entering into a CVA agreement.

The point on Tuesday would have left Invicta as champions had those points not been taken away.

It was thus a night of what might have been for Neil Cugley's side who could not quite find the goal that would have taken the title race to the final Saturday despite a rousing second half effort.

The visitors celebrated their championship success on the pitch after the final whistle, but one had to feel sympathy for the Inivcta players who had again done the club proud but were denied the title for events that were outside their control.

Those circumstances though were also not of Croydon Athletic's making and the Rams had began their pursuit of then leaders Invicta with a 1-0 win at their KT Stadium back in February.

The Rams have the best attacking record in the division and the second best defensive record.

But Invicta have won the most matches in the division, lost the least and have by far the best defensive record with only 22 goals conceded in 41 league matches.

It is at the other end where Invicta have found things harder as only the bottom five in the division have scored fewer goals and a second successive home Tuesday blank was ultimately to prove costly despite the side once again giving their all.

This was the 20 th clean sheet that Invicta have recorded in the league this season and their fifth goalless draw.

The nearest the home side came to a goal was the 56 th minute when Darren Smith blasted over the crossbar after latching onto a James Everitt touch and running into the penalty area.

Invicta had stepped up a gear during the second half as they went in search of the goal they needed, with big performances all over the pitch, with captain Micheral Everitt leading by example, Friend and Liam Dickson majestic at the heart of the defence, Josh Vincent carrying the fight forward and James Everitt and Smith again working tirelessly.

Croydon Athletic for their part remained strong and resolute at the back as they held on for the point that they needed, whilst remaining dangerous on the break, with pace in abundance up front.

Invicta had gone into the game with the same starting eleven that had won 2-1 away to Ramsgate on Saturday.

It was the visitors, though, who had the early chances as striker Ben Godfrey scuffed a seventh minute shot wide and top goalscorer Gary Noel also shot wide after running at the Invicta defence two minutes later.

At the other end, Josh Burchell let fly at goalkeeper Andy Little from outside the penalty area on the half hour mark when the ball was worked across from the right hand side.

And Simon Austin could not quite force the ball in after a long throw from striking partner Everitt in the 38 th minute.

Croydon Athletic threatened at the start of the second half as Friend got across to tackle Noel when Jeremy Williams played him through in the 49 th minute and Noel could not then get enough power on his close range shot six minutes later after a Godfrey ball in from the left.

But Invicta then enjoyed their best spell of the game as Little touched over a James Everitt cross-shot from the right hand side in the 54 th minute. The ball was then headed wide in a crowded goalmouth from Smith's subsequent corner.

Smith's big chance soon followed and Dickson then surged forward in the 58 th minute but shot harmlessly wide.

Visiting striker Godfrey was finally able to get past centre half Dickson on the hour mark but Friend got across to guide the ball back to goalkeeper Jack Delo.

Invicta brought on prolific goalscorer Brendon Cass and later the club's record goalscorer James Dryden as they continued to search for an elusive breakthrough, but there was to be no fairytale ending this time.

There was danger at the other end in the 80 th minute when substitute Gareth Williams played in the quick Leslie Thompson down the right hand side, but Friend again got across to put the ball out for a corner.

Jacob Erskine then attempted a deft chip when the set piece eventually fell to him on the left hand side but Delo was able to save comfortably.

Friend hit a 30-yard piledriver at Little when he moved forward in the 81 st minute after receiving the ball from Vincent and the latter himself volleyed wide three minutes later when a long throw from Everitt on the right came back out to the edge of the penalty area.

Invicta have become renowned for their late winning goals this season and kept up the pressure as an 88 th minute Smith ball into the visitors' penalty area resulted in a goal mouth melee that only led to a corner.

Croydon Athletic left back Nathan Green then sliced the ball out for another corner a minute later when Smith played the ball in again from the left hand side after Burchell picked him out.

There were second half bookings for Invicta defenders Frankie Chappell (foul on Godfrey) and Burchell (foul on Thompson).

The 2134 crowd wasInvicta's second highest ever for a home league match after the 2278 crowd that had seen a 1-0 win over Dover Athletic over Christmas 2004.

The ‘free' admission was obviously a factor here as new Invicta chairman Lynn Woods had worked hard to turn the night into a commemorative occasion for Rifleman Peter Aldridge.

Peter's parents Andrew and Caroline and brother Matthew were in attendance, joined by military personnel and dignitaries such as the Lord Majors of Croydon, Folkestone and Hythe, as well as members of Invicta's youth teams before the game, where the Combined Cadet Force of Sir Roger Manwoods School played.

The Last Post was played, the Standard lowered and then raised again a minute's silence.

A sombre and dignified few minutes before a great advertisement for Ryman League football.

And around £10,000 believed to have been raised to be split between Help for Heroes and Care for Casualties.

So many people did themselves proud.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith, Dickson, J. Everitt, Austin (Cass 71 mins), Jackson (Dryden 86 mins). Unused sub : Guiver, Bartrum, Bates.

CROYDON ATHLETIC: Little, Howe, Green, Waldren, Dolan, Erskine, Thompson (Bolarinwa 89 mins), J Williams, Godfrey, Noel (Bourne 83 mins), Hill (G. Williams 78 mins). Unused subs : Graham, McDonald-Roberts.

Attendance : 2143.