Carshalton Athletic 1-1 Folkestone Invicta

James Everitt was the toast of the town as his crucial second half equaliser ensured Folkestone Invicta’s survival in the Ryman Premier League with a 1-1 draw away to Carshalton Athletic on the final day of the campaign, writes Richard Murrill.

On a dramatic day which began with the Folkestone earthquake, the younger Everitt brother saved the day when he drilled the ball home after it was played back to him by elder sibling Micheal.

As it turned out Invicta needed a point to avoid relegation and teenager Everitt was able to celebrate a historic goal for the club in front of a large contingent of travelling supporters.

It was perhaps fitting that it should be the local Everitt brothers who conjured up the all-important goal as both have been with the club since they were boys and typify the work rate, commitment and passion which have come to epitomise Folkestone Inivcta at this level.

With player-coach Mark Saunders out suspended, 19-year-old James, universally known as Ratty, and 24-year-old Micheal, aka Mev, were paired together in the engine room at the heart of midfield and both again ran themselves into the ground for their hometown club.

With Ashford Town (Middlesex) winning 3-0 at home to Worthing, Invicta had to rely on Chelmsford City beating Harrow Borough to avoid the Folkestone club going down.

And there was an agonising 15-minute wait after the final whistle for that delayed game to finish before confirmation came through that Chelmsford had 3-2 at Melbourne Park to condemn Harrow Borough to relegation.

Invicta defender Kevin Watson’s girlfriend Nikki’s family are Chelmsford supporters and were providing a running commentary on the closing stages of their game by mobile phone before her mother’s confirmation that the final whistle had gone was the cue for Invicta’s celebrations.

The Folkestone side had been in trouble when they fell behind in the 49minute as Jack MacLeod volleyed the ball into the net to open the scoring for the home side after Charlie Side had broke down the right hand side of the penalty area and played the ball across in a move started by Liam Harwood.

Having failed to score in six of their previous ten matches it was not looking good for Invicta, but they were only behind for a couple of minutes before Everitt levelled.

On a sunny afternoon and bobbly pitch at the War Memorial Sports Ground, Invicta had struggled to make in-roads during the first half but showed more attacking purpose after the interval when their most creative player James Corbett was pushed forward to partner Ellis Remy and Damian Abel.

The best chance of the first half had come within the opening minute when Carshalton’s leading goalscorer Luke Fontana found himself free in the middle and went round goalkeeper Richard Martin, only for young centre half Liam Friend to clear off the line for the game’s first corner.

At the other end, Carshalton right back Simon Cooper did well to get in before centre forward Remy at the far post to put Watson’s inviting cross from the right out for Invicta’s first corner after 40 minutes.

With Invicta anxiously awaiting news of half time scores from elsewhere, hosts Carshalton will have known how they felt having been in the same last day relegation scenario themselves for the past two seasons in the Nationwide Conference South.

Once the game’s two goals had followed in quick succession, Invicta enjoyed their best spell of the game and Corbett shot at goalkeeper Aaron Howe after 57 minutes.

Side shot over for Carshalton from just outside the penalty area after 76 minutes, but Micheal Everitt fired over for Invicta two minutes later.

Corbett had a chance to put Invicta ahead when Remy played the ball across from the left hand side of the box after 85 minutes and Remy himself was desperately close a minute later when Howe saved from close range and Micheal Everitt shot over.

There was a late scare for Invicta after 88 minutes when Mark Marshall shot wide with a free kick from a central position just outside the penalty area.

Remy had another chance when his stoppage time shot was blocked following a ball out of defence.

But Inivcta had just about done enough.

Carshalton Athletic: Howe, Cooper, Harwood, Graves, Cartledge, Side (Maledon 76), Marshall, Toppin, Fontana, Dundas, MacLeod (Carter 86 mins). Subs: King, Watts.

Folkestone Invicta: Martin, Watson, J. Everitt, Flanagan, Friend, Okikiolu, M. Everitt, Sly, Remy, Corbett, Abel. Subs: Knott, Lamb, Chandler, Guiver, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 372.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to thank Richard Murrill for sending in his match reports on Folkestone Invicta - we wish the club well next season.