A spectacular stoppage time save from Bognor goalkeeper Craig Stoner denied Folkestone Invicta victory in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Stoner touched away a Simon Austin thunderbolt to deny the home side a late winner in Neil Cugley’s 750^th competitive match as manager of Folkestone Invicta after James Everitt had got in behind the Bognor defence and played the ball back.

Austin had scored both Invicta goals during an exciting second half, whilst the Ryman League Division One South’s leading goalscorer Jason Prior opened and closed the scoring for Bognor.

PRIOR, the subject of much interest from Football League clubs, opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute when he was there to put the ball in from close range after a low cross from Ben Johnson on the left hand side was touched on.

AUSTIN made it 1-1 in the 63^rd minute when he headed the ball in after Frankie Chappell had met a Darren Smith corner from the left on the central defender’s 200^th starting appearance for the club.

And AUSTIN sensationally put Invicta ahead in the 78^th minute when he unleashed a spectacular strike across goal and into the far corner of the net after Josh Burchell had found him on the left hand side and he cut in past two defenders with the goal in his sights.

But PRIOR equalised for free-scoring Bognor in the 82^nd minute when he headed in substitute Steve Harper’s corner from the right.

The visitors then went in search of a late winner but ultimately had goalkeeper Stoner to thank for his late wonder save.

Invicta had gone into the game with Ryan Moreby and Austin back in the starting 11 in place of Liam Dickson (groin) and Richard Atkins (ankle), with Burchell at left back.

Stoner saved comfortably in the second minute when the ball fell to Moreby 20 yards out, but Prior’s goal was to give Bognor a dream start.

Invicta captain Micheal Everitt hit a long range shot wide and Moreby fired wide when the ball again fell to him on the right hand side in the 18^th minute.

Stoner then had to touch an Austin shot round the post for a corner after a 28^th minute Moreby ball down the right hand side.

The game then entered a niggly phase as the two captains – Everitt and Tom Beck – were both booked after a 29^th minute flare up involving players from both sides, with Bognor’s Terry Dodd also booked.

Prior was then booked for a 32^nd minute foul on Chappell that occurred desperately close to the penalty area. Smith’s subsequent free kick from the left hand side of the penalty area was saved but not held by stoner, with Josh Vincent just unable to force the rebound over the line.

A handball by Johnson when Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo attempted to throw the ball out was then unbelievably missed by the officials in the 37^th minute.

But the game settled down again and Beck, who had switched flanks to the right, showed good technique but could not get enough power on his 43^rd minute shot at Delo.

Invicta striker Everitt then shot at Stoner in the 45^th minute when Vincent broke into the penalty area down the right hand side.

Bognor had to make a change at half time as full back Darryl Wollers went off with a hamstring injury, with James Crane moving across to left back and Beck dropping to right back.

Delo saved a 58^th minute Dodd shot when Johnson played the ball to Crane down the left hand side.

There was an escape for Invicta a minute later when Johnson made a mess of his return pass after Invicta central defender Liam Friend had lost possession to Prior.

But Bognor defender had to clear when Burchell slipped the ball through to Vincent after Burchell had broke forward and played a one-two with Austin. And Invicta equalised from the subsequent corner.

Chappell headed a 73^rd minute Crane cross out for a corner when Prior played the ball out wide and Johnson tried to catch Delo out with a shot from the left hand side a minute later.

Bognor then had penalty appeals waved away when the ball struck Friend in the 76^th minute.

And Austin soon put Invicta 2-1 ahead when he brought Burchell’s ball down superbly and hit one of his specials.

But the home side’s lead was only to last for four minutes.

Bognor then continued to go forward in search of a winner and Johnson hit a low shot wide when he seemed poised to score after cutting in from the left hand side past Vincent.

Dodd then shot wide in the 90^th minute after a Johnson ball.

But Invicta had chances in stoppage time as Stoner denied Austin a hat-trick with his wonder save.

Austin had dropped back into midfield when Atkins replaced Moreby.

And there was still time for Crane to get a toe to the ball with Smith waiting in the middle behind him when substitute Atkins broke down the left hand side and played a low ball across the Bognor goal mouth.

The 317 attendance was Invicta’s highest so far this season.

They certainly got their money’s worth.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Edge, Smith, Austin, J. Everitt, Moreby (Atkins 84 mins), M. Everitt. Unused subs: Guiver, Mortimer, Hayward.

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN: Stoner, Crane, Wollers (Harper 45 mins0, Ide, Breach, Sherriff, Beck, Wills, Prior, Dodd, Johnson. Unused subs: Blatchford, Cody, Bond, Killpatrick.

Attendance: 317