Folkestone Invicta went out of the F. A. Cup with a sense of injustice as they lost 2-1 against Horsham in their Second Qualifying Round tie at a sunny Buzzlines Stadium.

The home side were unable to save the day despite pulling a late goal back through substitute Craig Wilkins and were left feeling aggrieved for not being awarded a penalty by referee Neil West.

Goals from centre half Andrew Howard and centre forward Evan Archibald won the tie for the Ryman Premier League side before Wilkins’ first goal for the club briefly raised home hopes of forcing a replay.

But the home side were left fuming by the decision not to award a penalty in the 44th minute when James Everitt was pulled down by goalkeeper Paul Seuke after going round him down the right hand side of the penalty area.

It was a big moment in the tie but referee West gave a goal kick after consulting one of his assistants, much to the clear annoyance of Invicta manager Neil Cugley and home supporters.

The visitors had opened the scoring in the 36th minute when HOWARD thumped the ball into the net after it had been played back from the left bye line when a corner from the right was only partially cleared.

ARCHIBALD made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute when he headed home after Lee Carey had played the ball into the middle of the penalty area from the right hand side.

Substitute WILKINS reduced the deficit in the 87th minute when he drilled in a low shot after James Dryden touched the ball back to him when substitute Kieran Byrne initially headed the ball on.

And Invicta came desperately close to an equaliser (below) when James Evferitt headed inches wide from a Jimmy Jackson free kick on the left.

The free kick had been awarded after Howard had been fortunate to escape with just a yellow card after cynically bringing down substitute Byron Walker after the latter had raced past him following a great ball from Byrne.

Invicta goalkeeper Charlie Mitten joined the attack during stoppage time and was booked for comments made to the officials as the players left the field as the home side’s frustrations boiled over.

Horsham had reached the Second Round Proper of the F. A. Cup last season and made a positive start as Carey headed from close range at Mitten after eight minutes and the Invicta goalkeeper then kept out a fierce Lee Farrell shot five minutes later.

At the other end, Seuke made a one-handed save to keep out a low Jackson shot after 17 minutes in a move also involving strikers Dryden and Everitt.

Jackson forced the game’s first corner after 28 minutes when Seuke pushed his shot from outside the penalty area round the post.

But it was the Hornets who scored the game’s crucial opening goal courtesy of Howard.

Invicta responded as Dryden fired wide when James Everitt touched the ball back to him in the 39th minute.

The non-penalty decision was always going to be a major talking point and there was further discussion when referee West blew for half time as Invicta claimed that the ball had crossed the line when goalkeeper Seuke spilt it when under pressure.

Horsham made a good start to the second half as Mitten was soon called into action again to deny Farrell and Micheal Everitt then got back to clear a dangerous cross from the right in the 50th minute.

The visitors’ Farrell was then booked and an Alex Haddon shot dipped over the Invica crossbar after 52 minutes.

For Invicta, Jackson shot wide in the 56th minute after a move involving strikers Dryden and Everitt.

Home goalkeeper Mitten got down to make an excellent one-handed 65th minute save round the post when a ball over the middle of the Invicta defence sent Farrell away with a good chance to increase the visitors’ lead.

Invicta went 4-3-3 when a double substitution saw Walker and Wilkins replace Mark Green and Scott Lindsey, with Liam Friend moving across to left back.

But the home side were soon 2-0 down as Horsham gave themselves breathing space with Archibald’s header at the end of a well-worked move.

Horsham left back Russell Eldridge was booked for a 77h minute push on James Everitt and the Invicta striker could not quite get a vital touch from close range at the far post from Jackson’s subsequent free kick on the right.

Horsham themselves had another chance in the 84th minute when Mitten touched substitute Shane Graham’s shot on the turn round the post for a corner.

Invicta went three at the back when Byrne replaced centre half Matt Bourne and the 23-year-old local player made a positive impact as the home side pulled a goal back through Wilkins and then went so close to equalising through Everitt.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten, Gledhill, Green (Walker 69 mins), Friend, Bourne (Byrne 85 mins), M. Everitt, Lindsey (Wilkins 69 mins), J. Everitt, Dryden, Humphrey, Jackson. Unused subs: Swallow, Conyers.

HORSHAM: Seuke, Page, Eldridge, Howard, Franks, Knee, Mingle, Carey, Archibald, Farrell (Graham 81 mins), Haddon. Unused subs: Payne, Dale, Geddes, Charman, Carney.

Attendance: 345.