Hendon 0 Folkestone Invicta 0

Folkestone Invicta had to settle for a point from Saturday’s visit to Hendon on a sunny but windy afternoon in north-west London, writes Richard Murrill.

It was a game of few clear cut chances at Claremont Road as Invicta ended a run of three consecutive defeats against Hendon since joining the Ryman Premier League.

But the visitors will feel that they were denied all three points as they had penalty appeals waved away deep into stoppage time when substitute Matt Carruthers appeared to be held back following an up-and-under from fellow recent signing Lee Shearer.

Invicta went into the game with an unchanged line up and had a couple of early half chances through James Everitt.

The younger Everitt ran into the box down the left hand side after just four minutes and saw his shot deflected for the game’s first corner and then sent in a teasing cross from the right six minutes later which goalkeeper Dave King had to touch over the crossbar for another corner.

At the other end, a header from big former Margate centre forward Darren Watson clipped the Invicta crossbar following a cross from the right.

Invicta right back Mark Corneille then hit a low shot which big goalkeeper King got down to save at the near post seven minutes later when Martin Chandler ran through the middle and played the ball out right.

Watson shot wide for Hendon when centre half Mark Cooper did well to head the ball back at the far post following a free kick on the right.

And Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell needed two attempts to keep out Michael Barima’s 25-yard strike four minutes later.

Defender Steve Norman cleared for a corner after 54 minutes when a cross from the left to Barima in the middle evaded goalkeeper Kessell.

But chances were few and far between during the second half as Invicta’s Mark Saunders shot from distance at King after 75 minutes.

Blaise O’Brien did well down the left hand side for Hendon three minutes later but his cross was headed away from goal by substitute Andy Cook.

Unfortunately the afternoon was to end in misfortune for Hendon’s Danny Murphy who had to be stretchered off in the closing minutes after falling awkwardly.

Hendon’s Dave Hunt shot over from the left hand side of the penalty area with virtually the last kick of the game.

Invicta’s Corneille was the game’s only booking after 73 minutes.

* Folkestone Invicta host basement boys Redbridge in the Ryman Premier League on Monday, 27^th February. The game at the Buzzlines Stadium in Cheriton Road starts at 7:45pm.