Invicta followed up our opening day draw at Chichester City with a repeat scoreline at Flamingo Park on Tuesday night, this time coming from behind to secure the point thanks to a goal eventually credited to debutant Kweku Lucan.

Jay Saunders opted to make one change from Saturday’s starting XI, with forward Ade Yusuff replacing Ronnie Dolan which saw Donell Thomas operate from a wide position with Invicta starting with three centre forwards.

Invicta survived an early scare as Joel-Michael Odeniran cut out a ball across the face of goal, Ted Collins collecting to ricochet although it did look to be heading just wide of the post.

Injury to Dean Rance forced an early break in play, the midfielder replaced by Mikey Berry for his Invicta debut.

Invicta’s first couple of chances came in the air – Jake Hutchinson heading wide from a Montel McKenzie cross before captain Kevin Lokko headed a Jack Jebb free kick into the arms of Cray Wanderers goalkeeper Harry Seaden.

Seaden then threw himself at the feet of Yusuff to smother a half-chance for the Invicta forward who then found himself gifted a golden opportunity to open the scoring when the Wands keeper flapped at a McKenzie cross, Invicta’s forward however was unable to keep his effort under the crossbar from six yards.

Yusuff turned provider for Hutchinson who forced a block before Berry mishit the rebound and Jebb fired over.

The sides were level at the break but both goalkeepers were forced into simple saves early in the second half. Cray gave Invicta a warning of their ability on the break as Chris Dickson and Ashley Nzala combined from an Invicta corner, Dickson’s ball across the six yard box just out of the reach of a teammate.

Invicta were punished just a few minutes later as another corner cleared to Dickson allowed the forward to play in Nodirbek Bobomurodov who saw his shot blocked by Donell Thomas, only to loop over the head of Ted Collins, heading wide until the bounce spun it back inside the post to give the Wands the lead.

Jake Hutchinson responded immediately with a low effort from 20 yards that Seaden got down to save. Saunders’ response was to introduce forward Kweku Lucan, signed earlier in the day, in place of Josh Strouts while changing his team’s system. Lucan afforded a chance almost immediately, Thomas breaking in behind the defence and cutting the ball back to Invicta’s 20 on the penalty spot, a touch from a defence denying him the chance to finish.

Lucan was in the right place at the right time in the 73rd minute to get the final touch on Invicta’s equaliser. A Jebb corner flicked on by a defensive head was turned goal-bound by defender Joel-Michael Odeniran who originally appeared to claim the goal, but the ball took a deflection off the ankle of Lucan to send it beyond Seaden.

Cray introduced George Brooke who went close to mirroring Lucan’s impact within seconds of coming on but struck his effort against the crossbar.

Invicta sent on Ronnie Dolan and Brad Walledge in the closing minutes as the game headed towards a second consecutive 1-1 draw for Jay Saunders’ side.

We now look ahead to Saturday’s trip to Canvey Island. Spaces are available on our supporters’ coach. Click here to book now.