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Last ditch Larkin snatches point for Tonbridge
Full-blodded top-of-the-table Kent clash ends all square
Folkestone Invicta 1-1 Tonbridge Angels
Tuesday 16 March 2004
Dr Martens League Eastern Division
by Richard Murrill
An injury
time equaliser from centre half Andy Larkin denied Folkestone Invicta what would
have been a significant win in Tuesday night’s big Kent derby and
top-of-the-table clash in a full-blooded encounter at the Westbourne Stadium in
front of a 542 crowd.
Former
Invicta defender LARKIN headed in Sam Tydeman’s corner from the right more
than three minutes into stoppage time to deny Invicta all three points after
James Dryden had given Invicta the lead just before half time.
The
fact that Tydeman had been allowed to steal ten yards to take the initial free
kick which led to the decisive corner made the equaliser all the more galling
for Invicta to accept.
26-year-old
Larkin had scored just two goals in 157 starting appearances for Invicta between
1998-2002 and was Player of the Year at Cheriton Road for 1998-99. His
last-ditch goal keeps Tonbridge four points clear of third placed Invicta in the
Eastern Division table.
It
was the third time this season which Invicta have been denied victory by a late
goal in a home league game, although Neil Cugley’s side did themselves carry
out a great injury time escape away to leaders King’s Lynn.
Invicta
welcomed Drew Watkins back into the starting line up at right back and partnered
Anthony Hogg in attack alongside Dryden.
And
the home side made a strong start as Dryden lobbed just wide of the post as
early as the sixth minute when he hit the ball over goalkeeper Jamie Turner
after being put through down the middle.
Larkin
was booked for a foul on Hogg after ten minutes and Luke Anderson was lucky to
escape with just a yellow card for lashing out after and catching Hogg in the
face after being fouled by the Invicta man after 28 minutes.
Centre
half Adam Flanagan headed over a Martin Chandler free kick from the left after
36 minutes.
And
Invicta duly opened the scoring after 42 minutes when Paul Lamb put DRYDEN
through the middle and the striker held his nerve to hit a low shot across goal
and into the net for his third goal in consecutive matches.
Tonbridge
made a purposeful start to the second half as Luke Piscina had a shot blocked
close to the Invicta line in the 47th minute and Ryan Royston’s
header was blocked after 49 minutes.
Tempers
flared again after 52 minutes when Dryden reacted after Tydeman left his foot
in.
Visiting
goalkeeper Turner turned the ball round the post for a corner as Invicta
threatened again after 58 minutes.
Tonbridge’s
assistant-manager Mike Rutherford became the third of the visitors’ side to be
booked for a foul on Hogg after 61 minutes.
Invicta
substitute Lee Blackman was also cautioned for impeding Tonbridge form taking a
throw-n during the dying seconds of the 90 minutes, though how Rutherford
escaped further punishment for striking out at the Invicta striker only referee
Rowbury will know.
And
Tonbridge were to save the day with Larkin’s last-ditch equaliser.
Folkestone Invicta travel to Ryman League Division One South Bromley in the John
Ullman Kent Senior Cup semi-final next Tuesday, 23 March, kick off 7.45pm.
FOLKESTONE
INVICTA:
Kessell, Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Chandler (Blackman 75 mins),
Munday, Dryden, Watkins, Hogg. Unused
subs: Dyson, Walker, Winfield, Egan.
TONBRIDGE
ANGELS:
Turner, Beales, Roser, Anderson, Larkin, Royston (Moore 84 mins), Tydeman,
Rutherford, Piscina, Overton, Searle (Cass 63 mins). Unused subs: Dolby, Hodge,
Wilson.
Attendance:
542.