Worthing 1-1 Invicta

Folkestone Invicta came back from Worthing knowing that this is a game that they should have won after conceding an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

Neil Cugley’s side had led 1-0 at half time thanks to a Darren Smith penalty after dominating the first half but saw another two points slip away when Steve Metcalf headed in an equaliser in the 94^th minute after a corner from substitute Jamie Brotherton on the right.

Invicta had conceded at a similarly late stage to lose in a recent away match at Merstham and their hopes of reaching the Ryman League Division One South play-offs remain in the balance.

The visitors were in total control during the first half but did not add a second goal and paid a cruel price as Worthing had more of a go after the interval.

And while Invicta always looked to be the more likely winners Worthing did also hit the crossbar and the post during the same attack midway through the second half following the introduction of substitutes Brotherton and Tom Lawley.

The Folkestone side had gone into the game with Roland Edge back in the starting eleven after a six-match absence in place of the suspended Phil Stevenson, with Josh Vincent filling in at right back. Liam Dickson was at left back after recovering from sickness which had caused him to be substituted during the first half in the midweek 0-0 draw at home to Sittingbourne.

Invicta made a good start as striker Richard Atkins played the ball forward to Johan Ter Horst in the ninth minute but right back Metcalf blocked the shot.

A 16^th minute Dickson cross from the left had to be touched over by home goalkeeper Josh James for Invicta’s first corner of the game.

James then palmed away a Smith free kick from a central position just outside the penalty area after home captain Paul Kennett brought down Atkins after initially giving the ball away to Dickson.

Kennett was making his 400^th appearance for Worthing but things were not going his side’s way during the first half.

A 35^th minute corner from Smith on the right was headed over by Atkins as Invicta continued to look threatening.

The visitors went ahead in the 37^th minute when player-coach SMITH converted the penalty after teenager Ter Horst had been impeded by Metcalf after showing some good footwork inside the box.

Invicta had won on their previous four visits to Woodside Road in a fixture that has a history of penalty decisions.

The first half here saw one penalty given and one not as Atkins was bundled over close to goal when Nat Blanks played the ball in after 38 minutes. It looked arguably more of a penalty than the one that was given but Invicta were not to be given two spot kicks in a matter of minutes.

The Folkestone side’s Vincent was booked in the 45^th minute for clattering into Chris O’Flaherty and leaving him lying on the side lines in a retaliatory challenge after he had himself just been caught with a high challenge.

The visitors were still on top at the start of the second half as they had two chances in the 51^st minute. Firstly, Atkins forced a save from James after Dane Luchford played the ball back from the left hand side and Vincent was then wide when he could not direct an inviting Edge cross from the left into the net.

Worthing had a good chance in the 53^rd minute when Scott Kirkwood found Metcalf in space down the right hand side but Invicta captain Liam Friend blocked from close to the line at the expense of a corner after the home right back had cut inside Dickson and goalkeeper Jack Delo.

A 57^th minute Atkins ball across from the left threatened to reach Luchford in the middle but left back Nat Hubert just about got away with it.

Worthing made a double substitution as danger men Brotherton and Lawley both came on after 61 minutes.

And the home side were desperately close to an equaliser three minutes later as an O’Flaherty corner from the left was headed against the crossbar by Kennett and Brotherton’s shot across goal came back off the inside of the post.

Invicta had a narrow escape there but went forward themselves again as a 68^th minute Edge shot from just outside the penalty area was touched over the crossbar by James after Vincent had found Luchford in space and the ball came back out.

Edge was then replaced by debutant Matt Newman, signed by Invicta from Chatham Town on Friday who could well turn into a very good acquisition.

Ter Horst ran into the penalty area down the left hand side but shot over in the 72^nd minute after a strong collision between Atkins and Charlie Cooke left the Worthing central defender having to limp off.

Worthing pressed for a late equaliser as striker Billy Metcalf shot from distance but Delo got down to save in the 84^th minute.

Friend then blocked a minute later when Hubert found substitute Kieron Pamment down the right hand side of the penalty area.

The home side finishe3d the game with ten men as Kirkwood went off injured during stoppage time after the Rebels had used all three of their substitutions.

But there was to be a final dramatic twist as Dickson did well to block a Brotherton shot for a corner after Kennett had found O’Flaherty down the left hand side and he played the ball into to substitute Lawley.

And METCALF headed in Bortherton’s subsequent corner with the ball also hitting Invicta central defender Frankie Chappell in the face.

Worthing’s Kennett was booked for a foul on Luchford in the 70^th minute.

WORTHING: James, Metcalf, Hubert, Hurley, Cooke (Pamment 76 mins), Kennett, O’Flaherty, Sullivan (Lawley 61 mins), Medlock, Kirkwood, Daniel (Brotherton 61 mins). Unused subs: Bryant, Slaughter.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Edge (Newman 68 mins), Friend, Chappell, Dickson, Smith, Blanks, Atkins, Luchford (Burchell 79 mins), Ter Horst. Unused subs: Philpott, Webb.

Attendance: 185.