Leyton 1 Folkestone Invicta 1

Folkestone Invicta picked up a point when striker Walid Matata headed in a 62^nd minute equaliser at Leyton on Saturday afternoon, writes Richard Murrill.

The home side had opened the scoring after 31 minutes thanks to a Leli Bajada penalty when the referee pointed to the spot after one of his assistants had flagged when Bajada himself had gone down under challenge from Kevin Watson.

Invicta had been the better side for much of the encounter in east London and levelled the scores when Matata headed in after James Fraser had done well to chase the ball and hook it across from the right hand side.

Matata had been restored to the starting line up in place of Chris Wright and John Guest returned to the centre of the Invicta defence in place of the suspended Adam Flanagan, with Micheal Everitt taking over as captain.

And Matata had a couple of early chances as he shot wide across goal when Paul Jones flicked the ball on to him after just four minutes and Matata then hooked the ball at goalkeeper James Hasell after seven minutes following a move involving Guest, Fraser and James Everitt.

Invicta enjoyed the better of the early exchanges as a Jones shot was deflected for the game’s first corner when Mark Saunders dispossessed Tristan Toney to set up the chance after 17 minutes.

Leyton’s first chance came after 26 minutes when Mark Sophocleous shot over from the edge of the penalty area when George Sifonios played the ball in to Bajada.

Invicta pushed Fraser further forward but fell behind to Bajada’s controversial penalty.

Sifonios then shot at goalkeeper Tony Kessell from the edge of the box after 33 minutes when the ball came in from the right and James Everitt blocked another Sifonios shot for a corner following a good ball from Daniel Tenkorang two minutes later.

A Watson shot was deflected for a corner following an Invicta free kick after 51 minutes and Matata’s equaliser set the visitors up for the final half hour.

Leyton goalkeeper Hasell got down well to keep out a Guest volley after 69 minutes when Fraser played the ball in from the right and Saunders headed over from the subsequent corner.

Saunders met another Watson corner after 75 minutes when Matata couldn’t quite direct his header in at the far post and Saunders headed a Paul Lamb free kick wide a minute later.

A late scare for Invicta saw a Sophocleous shot deflect just wide of the far post after 82 minutes.

* Maldon Town visit the Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road on Monday night (7:45pm), and a victory for Neil Cugley's side will put them in 14th place and level on points (33) with Kent rivals Bromley.