Folkestone Invicta 1-0 Ramsgate - Dryden pounces to give Folkestone joy over Rams

Dryden pounced to lob Jack Delo when he latched onto a headed back pass from Ramsgate centre half Dan Tanner which lacked sufficient power to reach the visiting goalkeeper.

A delighted Dryden was booked for taking his shirt off as he celebrated with home supporters but the club’s record goalscorer had notched another vital goal for Invicta.

Up until then, it had looked like Invicta might have had to settle for a replay despite creating the vast majority of chances.

Striker James Everitt had earlier hit the underside of the crossbar, Ramsgate captain Nick Davis cleared off the line and visiting goalkeeper Delo had made several good saves to frustrate the home side.

With Gillingham’s Andy Pugh unavailable and both Lee Spiller and James Corbett out injured, Invicta brought player-coach Scott Lindsey in for his first start since December 2005 to bolster their midfield.

And the versatile James Everitt partnered Dryden in attack as the home side took the game to the visitors from the start.

Ramsgate goalkeeper Delo made his first good save in the tenth minute when he touched a close range James Everitt shot over the crossbar after Nick Humphrey had nodded down a Lee Gledhill free kick.

At the other end, Mo Takaloo shot over on the turn a minute later.

Ramsgate’s Tanner was booked in the 20th minute for a foul on James Everitt when Dryden nodded the ball on to the edge of the penalty area and Delo touched over Dryden’s subsequent free kick.

Steffan Ball’s shot on the turn lacked power after a ball from striking partner Takaloo and Davis headed over four minutes later when the ball came back off Invicta centre half Matt Bourne’s head from a Ben Laslett cross.

Delo then made another good save to keep out a Humphrey header from a Micheal Everitt cross.

And Invicta were then unlucky not to open the scoring when James Everitt hit the upright after a Jimmy Jackson corner.

Ramsgate left back Joe Dowley was booked for a late tackle after 50 minutes.

And Invicta missed a gilt-edged chance a minute later when Dryden shot over from close range after Jackson played the ball in from the left hand side in a move started by Mark Green.

James Everitt then hit the inside of the post in the 65^th minute after a move involving Dryden and Jackson, but an assistant referee’s flag was up in any case.

The younger Everitt brother was denied again when Delo made a one-handed save as the striker made room for himself from a Dryden ball.

Invicta went 4-4-2 when Byron Walker replaced Gledhill after 72 minutes, with Humphrey moving to right back.

Ramsgate captain Davis cleared off the line in the 75^th minute to keep out a Walker rebound after Delo had saved from Dryden and the subsequent corner created more confusion in the Ramsgate penalty area as Humphrey shot wide amid a crowd of players.

Ramsgate had themselves posed a greater threat during the second half and Invicta left back Green had to get across to tackle in the 87^th minute when Warren Schulz played the ball through to fellow substitute Aaron Firth.

Dryden then hit a high shot at Delo after 87 minutes when Green got forward to dispossess right back Dane Sutton.

But Dryden’s latest moment of glory soon followed to settle the tie.

An injury to Invicta centre half Bourne led to increased stoppage time during which Takaloo shot over when goalkeeper Delo headed the ball on as he came forward in a desperate search for an equaliser.

After a poor recent record against Jim Ward’s Ramsgate, Invicta had produced the goods when some had least expected it. The magic of the FA Cup lives on.

Folkestone Invicta: Mitten, Gledhill (Walker 72), Green, Friend, Bourne (Dickson 90), M. Everitt, Lindsey, J. Everitt, Dryden, Humphrey, Jackson.
Subs: Burchell, Byrne, Conyers.

Ramsgate: Delo, Sutton, Dowley, Davis, Tanner, Laslett, Brown (Dolton 81), Hadden (Schulz 82), Minshull, Takaloo, Ball (Firth 72).
Subs: Eastwood, Kinch, Pettit, Alliston.