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Sevenoaks Town 4-4 Folkestone Invicta
Author: Richard Murrill
Published: 30th August, 2008

Folkestone Invicta lived to fight another day after an extraordinary F. A. Cup Preliminary Round tie at Sevenoaks Town which saw the visitors trail 2-0 and 3-2 before conceding a stoppage time equaliser when 4-3 up.

An incident-packed second half saw seven goals, including five in an incredible 11-minute spell during which Neil Cugley’s side were in deep trouble before appearing to have turned the game around.

When James Dryden put Invicta ahead for the first time in the 83rd minute, the tie seemed to have swung the Ryman League club’s way.

But there was to be a final twist deep into stoppage time when Sevenoaks substitute Dwayne GIBBONS’ free kick from the edge of the penalty area went in off Charlie Mitten’s head after the goalkeeper (right) had touched the ball onto the crossbar and it bounced back down.

It had not been the best of afternoons for the experienced and usually dependable Mitten who had been at fault for Sevenoaks’ opening goal in the 16th minute. There appeared to be no danger when Mitten received a back pass wide on the left hand side but his attempted clearance hit striker Marcus ELLIOTT who took full advantage by going round the goalkeeper and putting the ball into an empty net.

That lifted the Kent League side and raised the possibility of an upset, but nobody could have predicted what was to follow during the second half on a sunny afternoon at Greatness Park.

The alarm bells were well and truly ringing for Invicta in the 61st minute when captain Andy CONSTABLE made it 2-0 with a well-struck finish after Duwayne Morris had capitalised on a mistake by centre half Matt Bourne.

Invicta were now staring an inglorious exit in the face and made an immediate response as home goalkeeper Jamie Williams tipped over a delicate chip from Jimmy Jackson following a Mark Green run down the left.

And two goals in two minutes saw Invicta get back on level terms.

It was JACKSON who brought the Folkestone side back into the game in the 64th minute when he slotted the ball into the net after Williams had done well to save from Byron Walker.

James EVERITT then made it 2-2 when he shot into the far corner of the net from the right hand side of the penalty area after a Mitten free kick reached him.

All the magic and unpredictability of the F. A. Cup was on full show and the drama did not stop there.

Kent League side Sevenoaks were not finished as they regained their lead in the 69th minute courtesy of a great strike from Steve EVANS who found the bottom corner of the net when a free kick fell to him.

Invicta thought they had equalised just a minute later when Dryden headed in a Lee Gledhill cross from the right, but the ‘goal’ was ruled out by an assistant referee’s flag.

The visitors did not, though, have to wait long to make it 3-3 as JACKSON (left) struck again in the 71st minute as Dryden took a knock as the ball broke.

It was now all Invicta as they looked to settle the tie at the first time of asking.

Dryden turned defender Darren Pearson and hit a low 73rd minute shot at goalkeeper Williams and a Jackson volley from the left hand side of the penalty area then hit the far post three minutes later.

Williams then made a wonder save after 76 minutes when Dryden thumped the ball towards goal after a Green throw on the left.

James Everitt had a great chance to put Invicta ahead two minutes later when defender Pearson made a slip after centre half Liam Friend had played the ball forward, but Williams came out to make another important save as Everitt attempted to go round him.

Pressure told as DRYDEN put Invicta ahead when he fired a low shot into the net after a one-two with Friend and an initial shot from the defender. It was club record goalscorer Dryden’s third goal in three consecutive matches.

But substitute Gibbons’ late, late free kick was to save the day for Sevenoaks and leave both clubs contemplating a replay as everybody caught their breath.

Dryden (right) had earlier headed against the post in the 21st minute from a Jackson free kick and James Everitt headed over in the 29th minute as Invicta trailed.

Sevenoaks finished the first half well as Constable, Elliott and Morris all had shots on goal.

Constable then shot just wide with a spectacular overhead strike after a 37th minute corner on the right.

Jackson shot wide across goal from the left hand side of the penalty area on the hour mark just prior to the goal rush.

Invicta had given a first start to summer signing Walker in place of unavailable loan signing Andy Pugh.

There were second half bookings for both number sixes: Sevenoaks’ Perry Spackman (who misses the replay through suspension) and Invicta’s Micheal Everitt.

SEVENOAKS TOWN: Williams, Cook (Gibbons 87 mins), Olson, Griffiths, Pearson, Spackman, Walker (Queeley 83 mins), Evans, Elliott, Constable, Morris (Button 58 mins). Unused subs: Hart, Thompson, Edmonds, Shilling.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten, Gledhill, Green, Friend, Bourne, M. Everitt, Walker (Burchell 88 mins), J. Everitt, Dryden, Humphrey, Jackson. Unused subs: Corbett, Dickson, Byrne, Jevons.

Attendance: 140