Folkestone Invicta’s wait for a first victory at Colston Avenue since 2008 goes on after Jay Saunders’ league leaders were forced to settle for just a point on Saturday afternoon.
Invicta travelled to South London without midfielder Dean Rance, who suffered a broken tibia during a midweek training session, but Jay Saunders bolstered his squad with the additions of Ryan Kingsford from Ramsgate and Jonathan Lawson on a one-month loan from EFL Championship club Watford. Kingsford slotted straight into the midfield alongside Adam Lovatt and Jack Jebb, while Lawson would have to wait to make his debut as he was named amongst the substitutes.
Invicta kicked off attacking uphill in the first half and threatened to open the scoring inside a minute, Jake Hutchinson seeing off the attentions of two defenders before firing a bouncing ball narrowly over the near post from a tight angle.
In a busy opening few minutes, Josh Strouts delivered a ball across the face of goal and Hutchinson was on the end of a long pass from Ben Mason, rolling the ball into an empty net after the flag had been raised for offside.
Ted Collins in the Invicta goal was worked but not tested by the Carshalton attack before Hutchinson had his next sight of goal after 27 minutes, this time controlling a pass from Montel McKenzie but firing across the face of goal and just wide of the top corner. Ben Mason then looked to add to his tally of seven for the season but fired over with a left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Looking for a breakthrough, Saunders’ introduced Lawson for his debut at the start of the second half. Adam Lovatt fired high over the bar following a corner before Collins was forced into a save at the other end by the lively Kola Salami. Carshalton maintained a period of pressure which led to Mason Saunders-Henry forcing Collins into a fine save with an effort from 25 yards.
Kingsford saw an effort blocked for a corner from which Kevin Lokko headed wide, with Hutchinson just a whisker away from getting a touch to turn the ball goal-bound. McKenzie fired narrowly wide from 25 yards and Sam German headed over at the back post from a corner as Invicta searched for the elusive breakthrough.
Probably Invicta’s best chance of the afternoon fell to Lawson with little over 10 minutes to play. The 20-year-old forward beat the offside trap to race onto an aerial ball from Lovatt but saw the chance smothered by Carshalton goalkeeper Matthew Kerbey before he could take a shot on goal. Kingsford then forced a simple save from Kerbey from 25 yards just a minute later.
It was the hosts who went closest to taking the points during the five added minutes after Collins was forced into another good save to deny substitute Sharon Ifeanyi a dramatic winner. But when the referee called time on the proceedings, the points were shared – Invicta’s first goalless draw since we visited Lewes on Boxing Day 2024.
Invicta face a triple-header of home games to finish off January, with Burgess Hill Town, Wingate & Finchley and Welling United all due to visit the Alcaline Stadium before the end of the month. Tickets and hospitality for all three fixtures are on sale now.
