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Invicta totally dominated the first half when they had enough chances to put the result beyond any doubt. But it was a different story after the interval as Hitchin themselves were left to rue a series of missed chances which could have won them the tie.

The Folkestone side took the game to their hosts right from the start and created four chances within the opening five minutes as James Millar volleyed wide, James Dryden went down under challenge from Dean McElroy when Allan Tait nodded the ball down, Martin Chandler forced the game’s first corner when he let fly from fully 30 yards and a low Chandler shot was held by goalkeeper James Robinson after Tait had been taken out on the right hand side.

When Carl Drew shot wide from the left hand side of the box after ten minutes, it was as good as the first half was to get for Hitchin.

It was all Invicta as a Chandler volley across goal was put out for a corner on the quarter of an hour mark when Dryden played the ball in from the right.

Dryden shot just wide when Tait played the ball in to Chandler after 21 minutes and Tait had a clear opening when he headed a Millar volley after Chandler played the ball in from the right a minute later.

Anthony Hogg was the next to go close when he blasted over with a good chance after 33 minutes when Adam Flanagan headed on a long Dryden throw from the right.

Goalkeeper Robinson made a good save to deny Mark Munday after 41 minutes following a one-two with Tait as the Hitchin goal continued to live a charmed life.

The Ryman Premier League side simply had to improve after the interval and sure enough they signalled their intent straight after the re-start when Carl Williams headed a right wing cross against the crossbar at the far post within half a minute of the second half.

Invicta’s Chandler then became the game’s only booking for bringing down Williams as Hitchin threatened more in the opening minutes of the second half than they had throughout the opening 45 minutes.

James Osborn’s free kick flew just wide of the post and Hitchin were close again after 52 minutes when Munday cleared off the line following Ryan Frater’s deep free kick as the home side forced their first corner of the game.

Chris Dillon headed just over from Craig Rydeheard’s cross after 59 minutes and an Osborn shot was charged down after 63 minutes.

Striker Adam Parker shot wide with a clear chance in the middle after 66 minutes when the ball came in from the right in a move started by substitute Wayne Mills.

It was end-to-end stuff as Tait shot at goalkeeper Robinson after 69 minutes when Chandler played him in through the middle and Flanagan did well to block a header at the far post from Williams’ leftwing cross as play immediately switched to the other end.

The game had well and truly opened up and Hitchin goalkeeper Robinson came out bravely to save from Tait when Munday played the ball through the middle after 70 minutes.

Substitute John Ayling then couldn’t head in at the far post after 76 minutes when Hitchin substitute Ian Scott’s backheader let Dryden in down the left.

At the other end, Parker turned on the outside of the box and hit a screamer just wide of the Invicta post after 84 minutes.

And Parker missed a gilt-edged chance to break Invicta’s hearts after 88 minutes when he blasted over from close range when Mills’ right wing cross was nodded down by Dillon.

HITCHIN TOWN: Robinson, Bone, Rydeheard, Frater, McElroy (Ayres 45 mins), Dillon, Williams, Osborn, Drew (Mills 40 mins), Parker, Maynard (Scott 64 mins).  Unused subs: Burke, Childs.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Everitt, Lindsey, Flanagan, Guest, Hogg (Ayling 70 mins), Chandler, Munday, Dryden, Tait, Millar.  Unused subs: Watkins, Larkin, Blackman, Holdway.

Attendance: 319.