Dartford 2-2 Folkestone Invicta (aet, Dartford win 5-3 on penalties)

Matt Carruthers was the fall guy as one-time Invicta goalkeeper Kevin Hudson saved his penalty, with Kevin Watson, Steve Norman and Adam Flanagan all successful from the spot.

This latest shoot out disappointment follows on from similar exits against Welling United and Harrow Borough in the F. A. Cup and against Heybridge Swifts in this same competition in recent years.

After a goalless first half, Invicta found themselves 2-0 down at the start of the second half when their former centre half Anthony Henry struck twice for the Darts to pile on Folkestone side’s misery after a poor start to the season.

Henry – who celebrated his 27^th birthday the day after the game - was a popular figure during his time at Invicta between 2001-03 but was not renowned for his goalscoring prowess, scoring two goals in 73 starting appearances for Neil Cugley’s side.

But Adam Flanagan pulled a goal back for Invicta after 64 minutes and James Everitt brought the scores level with an 85^th minute equaliser as the visitors turned things around.

Invicta brought in new signing Samuel ‘Kola’ Okikiolu for his debut at the heart of the defence alongside captain Flanagan and 18-year-old Liam Friend, himself making his first senior starting appearance.

Martin Chandler came in for his first start of the season, with Stuart Myall, Lee Shearer and Steve Norman all relegated to the substitutes’ bench after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat against Leyton and both Paul Jones (unwell) and Mark Saunders (injured leg) unavailable.

Dartford had the early chances as Teddy Ansell shot over with a first time shot when the ball came in from the right after eight minutes.

And the Ryman Division One South side were awarded a penalty after 12 minutes when Flanagan was adjudged to have brought down striker Brendon Cass when a poor touch from Paul Lamb put the visitors’ defence in trouble.

It was the fifth penalty which Invicta have conceded in eight matches so far this season, but Cass himself put the spot kick wide.

Centre half Brad Potter headed over for Dartford after 14 minutes, while centre forward Ellis Remy headed just wide two minutes later when Kevin Watson sent over Invicta’s first corner of the game from the left hand side.

Wide man Hayes sent over a dangerous cross from the right for Dartford after 22 minutes which the stretching Cass couldn’t get on the end of at the far post.

Henry opened the scoring after 48 minutes when he headed over one-time Dartford goalkeeper Tony Kessell and into the net when Ryan Briggs’ free kick was deflected and looped up.

Micheal Everitt was booked for his protests at the award of the free kick.

And things got worse for Invicta when that man Henry added a second when he drilled the ball in after 56 minutes when a free kick from the left came back out.

Invicta goalkeeper Kessell and centre half Flanagan were soon booked as the Folkestone side’s frustration grew.

But when Flanagan met a Watson free kick from the right with a bullet of a header, Invicta were back in it.

Hayes cut in from the right and unleashed a 30-yard strike which curled just wide of the post two minutes later.

But Invicta now carried a real attacking threat which has so often been lacking recently.

Remy hit the post with an overhead kick after 69 minutes, with Flanagan just unable to force the ball over the line and Dartford defender Potter injuring himself on the post in his efforts to keep the ball out.

Substitute Ben Sly shot at goalkeeper Hudson after 77 minutes when Watson played the ball down the right hand side and Remy headed wide from a Watson corner on the right a minute later.

A stretching Remy couldn’t quite get a vital touch at the far post when Carruthers whipped in a cross from the right after 83 minutes.

And James Everitt  equalised when his shot from the edge of the penalty area deflected in off right back Osborne following a move involving Sly and Watson.

It was the first game this season in which Invicta had scored two goals and they came so close to a last minute winner when Remy missed with a close range far post header after Watson had put the ball in again from the right in a move also involving Micheal Everitt.

But the tie went to extra time when Kessell made an early save from Cass and the Dartford striker soon tested the Invicta goalkeeper again from 25 yards.

Flanagan glanced a header wide at the start of the second period of extra time after Carruthers sent the ball in following a short corner from Watson on the right.

Okikiolu made a saving tackle when Dartford substitute Steve Hafner threatened to break through the middle and Henry came close to an unlikely hat-trick when substitute Martin played a dangerous ball across from the left in a move started by Eddie McClements.

Dartford’s John Farley was also booked during the second half and later limped off with what looked like a painful ankle injury.

Before the match there had been a minute’s silence for Matt Gadsby, who had tragically died when he collapsed whilst playing for Hinckley United in a Conference North match at Harrogate on Saturday. It was a particularly poignant and sombre  occasion as Invicta and Dartford were the last two clubs of Paul Sykes who had in similar circumstances whilst playing for Invicta in April 2005.

DARTFORD: Hudson, Osborne, Farley (Hafner 68), Henry, Potter, Ansell, Briggs (White 49), Billeness, Cass (Martin 105), McClements, Hayes.  Sub: May.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, Lamb (Norman 76), Flanagan, Friend, M. Everitt, Okikiolu, Chandler (Sly 57), Remy, J. Everitt, Carruthers.  Subs: Myall, Shearer, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 116