Poor marking was a key factor as Tonbridge took a 3-0 lead by half-time in this Kent Intermediate Cup tie at Longmead.

Dan Garrity missed the target early on for the visitors after Charlie Gardiner headed the ball back across goal from a corner but Tonbridge went upfield to take the lead almost straight away.

Two more goals just before the break came through forwards not being picked up in the box, leaving Invicta with a mountain to climb in the second half.

But they picked their game up well and eventually pulled a goal back through Pete WILLIAMS on 70 minutes.

Luke Stonebridge produced two outstanding saves to prevent further damage – even if one was just for the cameras, according to boss Gary Towse.

Management spokesman Pete Saunders commented: “This was very similar to our game at Sevenoaks. We've got to get out of bed earlier and not lose games before they've started.

“There's a lot of work to be done on the defence.”

Invicta Res: Stonebridge; Mortimer (Carty), Easton (Freeland), Bates, Hanson, Gardiner; Lodge (Smith), Harrison, Swallow; Garrity, Williams