Folkestone Invicta exited the FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon as National League South side AFC Totton came from behind at the Alcaline Stadium to secure a spot in Monday’s third round draw.

Jay Saunders made five changes to his starting XI from the side that beat Cray Wanderers 8-1 on Tuesday night. Defender Ike Orji and midfielder Adam Lovatt missed the game due to being cup-tied, having already appeared earlier in the competition for Billericay Town and Hashtag United respectively. Dean Rance and Ben Mason also missed out on the squad while Joe Pigott dropped to the bench.

Ade Yusuff made his first start at the Alcaline Stadium this season, having returned to action against Potters Bar a week earlier, with Josh Strouts, Montel McKenzie, Ronnie Dolan and Jack Jebb also coming into the XI. Youngsters Dillon Simmons and Sonny Radbourne were included on the bench alongside academy players Harry Uttley and Taj Oliva who both made their debut in the previous round at Burgess Hill Town.

Strouts, deployed in a role wide on the right, was a constant threat for Invicta during the first half and forced the first save of the match inside two minutes, racing away onto a pass from Jebb and forcing Totton keeper Max Evans into action from a tight angle.

Mikey Berry saw an effort blocked from a similar angle and Montel McKenzie linked with Ade Yusuff before firing wide from distance as Invicta looked threatening but were struggling to test Evans.

Malachi Linton picked up the first booking of the afternoon for a late challenge on Liam Smith that saw the defender receive treatment but he was fine to continue.

Invicta found the breakthrough shortly before the half hour mark, Jack Hutchinson with his ninth goal in eight games. Joel-Michael Odeniran looked for the run of Hutchinson with a long pass down the left that was intercepted; Yusuff was the first to react to the loose ball and threaded it through the eye of a needle to release his strike partner, Hutchinson opening up his body to finish first time into the far corner of Evans’ net.

Totton had a first sight of goal after 34 minutes, a cross to the back post finding Luke Bennett who volleyed the ball harmlessly wide.

The visitors found their equaliser a few minutes later, the ball cut back from the byline to Linton who struck his effort first time into the corner.

Invicta nearly struck back immediately, Berry taking aim from distance that troubled Evans, the Totton stopper only able to parry it into the path of Strouts who was flagged offside.

The home fans behind the goal saw two appeals for penalties go unanswered late in the half. First a low ball across the penalty area was intercepted by a sliding challenge from Bennett but the ball struck his body before a slight touch on his hand and the referee showed no interest. Moments later Bennett brought down Mikey Berry but looked to have got a touch to the ball first that again left the referee waiving away the appeals.

Invicta continued to apply pressure throughout four minutes of added time but Totton held firm and the sides headed in level at the break.

Invicta came out quickly after the restart – Strouts delivering a ball from the right across the face of goal, Hutchinson shooting wide from inside the penalty area, Berry forcing a simple save from an angle and Odeniran firing over from the edge of the penalty area in the first couple of minutes of the half.

The visitors began to impose themselves on the game but were struggling to test Ted Collins’ goal as efforts from distance missed the target. Invicta were given a scare midway through the half when a shot deflected off the leg of Kevin Lokko and looped over Collins onto the crossbar. Half-time substitute Scott Rendell failed to turn the ball home from just inches out before Invicta cleared it to safety.

Invicta struck the woodwork themselves as Joe Pigott, a substitute for Yusuff on the hour mark, found Strouts 20 yards from goal, his side-footed effort striking the post and hitting Evans on the legs before the keeper was able to recover and claim the ball.

With the tie seemingly heading towards a shootout, Totton struck the decisive blow. Craig Tanner threaded a ball through the Invicta defence for Rendell who finished first time into Collins’ bottom corner to give the visitors the lead with just three minutes to play.

Collins went forward for three corners deep into added time as Invicta looked to salvage an equaliser that wasn’t to be, the referee calling time on the afternoon after Totton cleared the third – Invicta’s FA Trophy run brought to an end at the Second Round stage for the second consecutive year.

Goalscorer Jake Hutchinson was awarded Player of the Match by our match sponsors Tag Trees Ltd. Hutchinson’s strike takes the forward to a total of 12 for the season in all competitions, Invicta’s top goalscorer.

Invicta now face three consecutive away fixtures, starting with Tuesday night’s trip to Welling United in the Velocity Cup which will feature a side from Folkestone Invicta’s academy. Isthmian League trips to Cheshunt and Wingate & Finchley follow, supporters’ travel for both fixtures is on sale now.