Folkestone Invicta drew their first away pre-season friendly of the summer as James Dryden equalised just before half time after Jason Barton had headed Chatham into the lead on the quarter of an hour mark on Tuesday night.

Defender BARTON opened the scoring when he rose to meet a Lee Hales corner on the right.

DRYDEN levelled in the 45th minute when he was there to pounce after former Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell had saved from Darren Smith after a defensive error presented the chance.

It was a repeat of last summer’s 1-1 pre-season result between the two clubs at Maidstone Road when Barton had headed in a late equaliser for Chatham after Dryden had opened the scoring for Invicta!

Matt Hollyoak, Luke Webb and Dryden came into the Invicta starting eleven, with both sides taking the chance to try out new players particularly during the second half.

Half time substitute Ryan Moreby was the only completely new face for Invicta, whilst Chatham made nine changes at half time and even switched from blue to red shirts.

Left back Webb shot over as early as the second minute when he let fly from outside the penalty area, while at the other end Jon Pilbeam shot at Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo after a good combination with Hales in a move started by Mike Holiday. James Everitt shot at Kessell when Dryden nodded a Webb ball into his path after Smith had played the ball in from the right.

But it was the home side who went ahead from a corner after Delo had touched a Pilbeam shot round the post. Gary Tilley then got away from Frankie Chappell but could not get his shot over Delo.

There were chances at both ends in the 32nd minute as Pilbeam had a well-struck shot palmed away by Delo after Charlie Glyde had nodded the ball down and Paul Jones short narrowly wide from the right hand side of the penalty area for Invicta.

Dryden’s goal though was to send Invicta in level at the interval when the visitors made six changes.

Striker Stuart King threaded Dryden through on the hour mark but second half goalkeeper Adam Molloy saved in a move started by Jason Sowle. Sowle then played a 70th minute ball into Dryden but defender Jon Hogg did enough to avert the danger down the left hand side of the penalty area. King made space for himself on the edge of the penalty area but shot wide two minutes later.

At the other end, Kane Packer shot just wide of the far post across goal from the right hand side of the penalty area in the 73rd minute after a pass from Ryan Briggs.

Packer then threatened to capitalise on hesitation in the Invicta penalty area after 85 minutes but only won a corner for his efforts. Matt Newman then curled a 90th minute shot over the crossbar after a ball from Jack Taylor.

CHATHAM TOWN (first half): Kessell, Holiday, Barton, Solly, Metitri, Hill, Pilbeam, Hales, Jeffery, Glyde, Tilley.
CHATHAM TOWN (second half): Molloy, Rothery, Laker, Bademasi, Hogg, Pilbeam, Tilley (Ticehurst 64 mins), Briggs, Taylor, Newman, Packer.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, J. Everitt, Webb (Hooper 45 mins), Hollyoak, Chappell (Vincent 45 mins), Blewden (Burchell 45 mins), M. Everitt (Moreby 45 mins), Smith (Sowle 45 mins), Dryden (Blewden 77 mins), Jones (Punton 45 mins), King.

Attendance: 117.