Folkestone Invicta’s unbeaten start to the Isthmian League season was ended on Tuesday evening, a 92nd minute strike at Parkside consigning Jay Saunders’ side to a first league defeat since April.

Invicta headed to Essex off the back of a 4-1 FA Trophy victory from a much-changed side at Burgess Hill on Saturday and made five changes with Liam Smith returning from suspension alongside Kevin Lokko, Dean Rance, Donell Thomas and Joe Pigott. Ike Orji returned to the squad having been cup-tied on Saturday and was joined on the bench by academy defender Harry Uttley who has made his debut at Burgess Hill.

Travel chaos at the Dartford crossing had seen one Isthmian league fixture postponed on the evening but Dean Rance got us underway just a few minutes behind schedule and Invicta started brightly with Thomas and Pigott forcing saves from Jack Giddens inside the opening 70 seconds.

It was Hashtag however who struck the first blow of the evening in the sixth minute. A cross from the left headed down to Jaden Brissett who managed to get off a shot under pressure, his effort striking an Invicta leg and spinning into the bottom corner of Ted Collins’ goal.

Invicta set about trying to pick the lock of the Hashtag defence but wouldn’t force another save from Giddens until the 25th minute, Ronnie Dolan with a low driven effort from just outside the penalty area.

Toby Aromolaran, an early substitute for Bradley Sach who took a kick to the face, fired narrowly over from a short free kick and Jaxon Brown hit a tame effort wide from 20 yards around the half hour mark as the hosts looked to extend their lead but the sides headed in for half time with Hashtag holding a 1-0 advantage.

Saunders opted for two changes at the break, with Mikey Berry and Josh Strouts replacing Ronnie Dolan and Joel-Michael Odeniran.

Kevin Lokko headed narrowly wide from a corner early in the second half, then found himself on the end of a free kick that he turned into the path of Hutchinson who forced a superb save from Giddens from close range. The resulting corner found its way to Ben Mason at the back post who fired wide across the face of goal.

Montel McKenzie was replaced by Orji on the hour mark shortly before Hashtag squandered a golden chance to double their lead, hitting quickly on the break but Collins spread himself well to deny Aromolaran.

As we crossed the halfway point of the second half Invicta were beginning to up the pressure, more and more of the action taking place in Hashtag’s defensive third with balls from open play and set pieces being defended as Invicta searched for the breakthrough. Strouts forced Giddens to punch a save away with an effort from distance, Invicta keeping The Tags penned in and returned the ball to the box where a Lokko header and a Strouts shot were both cleared off the goal-line. Liam Smith then delivered the clearance back in where Lokko again rose highest but headed straight at Giddens.

Pigott saw an effort blocked and Lokko fired wide as time ticked away but finally as we entered the final five minutes Invicta found a breakthrough. A long ball into the penalty area was cleared as far as Dean Rance who unleash an effort from 25 yards through the crowd of players and beyond Giddens to level the score.

Invicta set about pushing for a goal that would secure a first win over Hashtag in five attempts. Into injury time a clearance fell to Pigott on the edge of the penalty area, his strike flying agonisingly wide of the top corner.

Less than a minute later the evening was settled at the other end. Aromolaran lead a Hashtag break although the chance looked like it may have gone as he tried to find a pass to Luke May-Parrott but the forward swung a left boot to scoop the ball over Collins and two defenders into the top corner.

One final low save was forced from Giddens before the final act of the evening saw Donell Thomas head wide of Giddens’ goal.

The defeat is Invicta’s first in the league since Good Friday’s trip to Billericay Town, who we will host on Saturday as we look to bounce back. Tickets and hospitality are on sale now.