A red card, a missed penalty, a late comeback and a 95th minute equaliser all ensured Invicta’s first game back at the Alcaline Stadium – after beginning the season on the road – would be one to remember for the 1,379 in attendance.

Jay Saunders brought in three players from the side that started against Southend United a week earlier. Jake Hutchinson replaced Josh Strouts in attack while Montel McKenzie and Mikey Berry came in to fill the gaps left vacant by Finley Marjoram and Bivesh Gurung, who departed earlier in the week. Defender Ike Orji, signed from Billericay Town, made the bench.

Dean Rance kicked off the afternoon for Invicta, attacking the cricket ground end of the Alcaline Stadium in the first half. Nyren Clunis dragged the first effort of the afternoon wide from 25 yards inside the opening two minutes, before Joe Pigott nearly opened the scoring at the other end, a nice footballing move from Invicta finishing with a ball in behind from Berry that Pigott lifted over Dulwich keeper Toby Bull onto the top of the crossbar.

Sean Bonnett-Johnson picked up the first booking of the afternoon in the 13th minute after pulling back Donell Thomas as the Invicta midfielder ran at the visiting defence.

Joel-Michael Odeniran did well to head away a dangerous cross-shot from former Invicta forward Luke Wanadio. A few minutes later the defender picked a long pass to Hutchinson, allowing the forward to link with Pigott and Thomas before the latter forced the first save of the afternoon from Bull.

Hutchinson was denied a clear shot on goal by a number of pink and purple bodies after Pigott found him with a cutback from the right midway through the first half. Then, shortly before the hour mark, the centre forward rose highest eight yards out to glance wide a header from Berry’s cross.

The visitors struck the first blow of the afternoon in the 37th minute from a short corner worked to Clunis who fired a low effort through the crowded penalty area and into the far bottom corner.

Dean Rance picked up Invicta’s first booking of the afternoon before the sides headed in for half time, Invicta trailing at the break for the first time in a league fixture this season.

Orji was introduced for the start of the second half, replacing Montel McKenzie who had suffered with food poisoning earlier in the week. Invicta tested Bull with an early low cross into the penalty area that the keeper claimed, only for play to be pulled back for a foul on Joel-Michael Odeniran as he delivered the ball. The set piece was cleared as far as Berry who fired over from distance.

Berry was into the book moments later after pulling back Wanadio deep in the Dulwich half, then was penalised quickly after for a perceived push on the winger outside the Invicta penalty area. The referee waved away the pink and purple shirts that surrounded him asking for a second booking for the Invicta midfielder. Wanadio stepped up to force a good save from Ted Collins, who flew to his left to get both hands to the ball.

Orji showed the crowd a first glimpse of his qualities after Berry took a quick free kick in the middle of the Dulwich half, Pigott feeding the ball wide to the wing-back who cut inside and delivered to the back post where Ben Mason’s diving header failed to hit the target.

Dulwich looked certain to double their lead when a cross from the left was headed back into the middle of the penalty area by Danny Mills, Amadou Kassaraté controlling the ball under pressure but firing his effort from close range straight at Collins who reacted well to deny the former Invicta man.

The game was becoming end-to-end as Invicta opened Dulwich up with Liam Smith finding a perfectly timed run from Hutchinson who cut the ball back across the six yard box. Joe Pigott was unable to get a clean contact and Donell Thomas saw his follow up blocked.

The visitors were awarded a penalty shortly after the hour mark after Wanadio, who had appeared to have controlled a high ball with his arm, drove at the Invicta defence and cut into the penalty area where he was brought down by Orji. Liam Smith picked up a booking for his complaints about the missed handball but the spot kick from Sol Baugh was fired high over Collins’ goal.

Having survived the penalty, Invicta’s task became an uphill one quickly after. Smith swung a boot in an attempt to clear a bouncing ball but Wanadio was too quick and had nicked it away, taking a kick high on his thigh that left the referee with little choice but to issue Smith with a second booking and reduce Invicta to 10 men.

Substitute Jack Jebb struck a bouncing ball wide from the edge of the box before Wanadio forced another good stop from Collins at the other end.

Jebb found his aim with 10 minutes remaining as he delivered a long pass from inside the Invicta half to find Joe Pigott on the edge of the Dulwich penalty area. Under pressure from Dulwich defender Tom Chambers, Pigott managed to bring the ball under control and fire a left-footed effort beyond Bull into the far corner to level the score.

Even a man light, Invicta rushed to get the game restarted in search of a winning goal that nearly came from substitute Ronnie Dolan. A Jebb free kick from deep was headed clear to the midfielder who chested the ball down and fired a dipping effort from 25 yards that would have sneaked just under Bull’s crossbar if not for a fingertip save from the goalkeeper.

Dolan turned provider just moments later for the moment that looked to have won the game for Invicta, hooking a bouncing ball in the Invicta half over the Dulwich defence for Pigott to race onto. Every breath in the stadium was held as the forward looked up to see Bull back-peddling. Pigott lifted the ball over the keeper into the net behind him to spark scenes around the stadium.

Invicta were now putting bodies on the line as Dulwich threw wave after wave of attack at Ted Collins’ goal. Into the the fifth minute of added time a ball down the Invicta right was intercepted by Orji who appeared to have been fouled as the ball then ran out of play for a Dulwich corner. The delivery found the head of Joseph Adewunmi on the edge of the six yard box, Collins unable to get enough on it to prevent it finding the net.

The game had barely restarted by the time it was brought to an end, both sides taking a point from a result that seemed fair while also carrying that feeling of what might have been. Invicta extend an unbeaten start to the league season to nine games, sitting third in the Isthmian Premier Division and with games in hand on the sides above.

Unsurprisingly, Joe Pigott was selected as our Player of the Match by our match sponsors Simbi Ltd. We would like to thank Simbi for their support in sponsoring the match. Should you wish to sponsor a fixture this season get in touch with us at partnerships@folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk.

There’s no rest for Jay Saunders and his side as we head into a hectic period of 15 games in 50 days, with Lewes due to visit the Alcaline Stadium on Tuesday evening. Tickets are on sale online.