Carshalton Athletic 1-0 Folkestone Invicta

An 89th minute header gifted Carshalton all three points after a game in which Invicta had enjoyed large spells of possession and dominance. The problem was again putting the ball in the back of the net.

Unlucky Folkestone Invicta came back empty-handed from Carshalton as they lost to a 90th minute goal in a game that the visitors did not deserve to lose at a windy War Memorial Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon.

The old adage that things do not go for you when you are at the bottom rang all too true for Invicta as Paul JOHNSON headed in the only goal of the game after Joel Ledgister had played the ball in from the right.

The defeat leaves Invicta in the Ryman Premier League relegation zone and in desperate need of a change of fortunes.

Invicta had gone into the game with a change in tactical approach as central defender Liam Dickson came back into the starting eleven as a centre forward alongside Simon Austin and Luke Webb coming in on the left, with Josh Burchell and James Everitt joining James Dryden on the substitutes' bench.

Dickson was soon involved in his new role as his fifth minute shot from the left hand side of the penalty area was deflected for game's first corner.

Austin then hit a good 11th minute strike just over the crossbar from outside the penalty area after Dickson had bundled over centre half David Ray as Invicta made a positive start.

At the other end, Ledgister hit a 22nd minute free kick narrowly wide from a central position just outside the penalty area after Liam Friend was penalised.

Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo then got down to save another Ledgister shot from the right hand edge of the penalty area three minutes later after a move also involving Luke Pigden and Barry Stevens.

A 27th minute shot from striker Carl Wilson-Dennis hit the corner flag after Chris Henry played the ball in from the left and centre half Dan Young touched it on.

A 32nd minute Dickson shot from the left hand edge of the penalty area was held by home goalkeeper Craig Ross after Darren Smith played the ball up to Austin.

Henry cut in from the left in the 35th minute but Delo saved and Henry then had the ball in the net four minutes later but an assistant referee's flag was already up after Delo had saved Ledgister's deflected shot.

Webb got back to clear for Invicta from Wilson-Dennis in the 49th minute when the striker wanted too much time after Pigden found Henry on the left and he went past Josh Vincent and played the ball back.

Ross held a good 56th minute strike from Dickson across goal from the left hand side of the penalty area, while at the other end Delo kept out a well-struck Pigden shot on the turn from the edge of the box after a Ledgister ball.

Invicta though were more than holding their own and Smith got forward to threaten the home goal.

The midfielder placed a 69th minute shot just over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area after captain Micheal Everitt played the ball out to Dickson on the right.

Smith had another strike three minutes later but was just wide from 25 yards and then had a 76th minute shot blocked by a defender following a Robbie Kember ball in a move also involving substitute Dryden, Dickson and Webb.

Carshalton had to wait until the 84th minute until they registered their only corner of the game.

Invicta re-organised after using all three of their substitutes as Webb ended up playing alongside Dryden in attack, with James Everitt occupying a central midfield role.

Friend blocked an 85th minute Wilson-Dennis shot inside the penalty area after a Stevens ball.

But just as the game seemed to be destined to finish goalless, Invicta conceded.

A stoppage time Micheal Everitt cross was met by a Frankie Chappell header that went wide of the post as Invicta sought a way back.

And Dryden volleyed at goalkeeper Ross with the very last kick of the match after Invicta goalkeeper Delo had launched a free kick for offside from close to the half way line into a crowded Carshalton penalty area.

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC: Ross, Boateng, Roberts, Ray, Young, Pigden (Toppin 71 mins), Johnson, Stevens, Wilson-Dennis, Ledgister, Henry. Unused subs: T Williams, Turner, Bryan, D Williams.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Webb, Friend, Chappell, Edge, Kember (Burchell 83 mins), M. Everitt, Austin (Dryden 71 mins), Dickson (J. Everitt 78 mins), Smith. Unused subs: Jackson, Humphrey.

Author: Richard Murrill

Attendance: 235.