Leyton 0-0 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta were robbed of victory at Leyton on Saturday afternoon when they were denied the most blatant of penalty decisions as James Everitt was brought down by home goalkeeper Jamie Lunan deep into stoppage time, writes Richard Murrill.

With just seconds of the game remaining, Everitt had gone round Lunan and was about to tap the ball into a completely open net from a central close range position when the Leyton goalkeeper stuck out an arm to bring him down.

Referee Mr Thompson from Middlesex had a good game up until then but will now be remembered for all the wrong reasons as it was hard to imagine how he could give anything other than a penalty kick.

It had looked as though the ball may run for substitute Paul Jones to put the ball into the net anyway, but Leyton managed to scramble the ball away in a break started when Samuel Kola Okikiolu played the ball out of defence to Ellis Remy.

The decision not to award the penalty was the major talking point of Invicta’s second consecutive goalless draw.

Neil Cugley’s side are now unbeaten in their last six matches, their best run since joining the Ryman Premier League in 2004.

Inivcta had welcomed back captain Adam Flanagan, Paul Lamb, James Everitt and Damian Abel to their starting line up in four changes to the side which had started last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Slough Town, with Liam Friend, Jones and Ben Sly on the substitutes’ bench and Roy Guiver unavailable.

On a sunny afternoon, on-loan Invicta goalkeeper Richard Martin made a good save from Curtis Allen after eight minutes when the ball was played in from the left.

At the other end, a James Everitt piledriver was deflected for another corner after 14 minutes when Kevin Watson played the ball back to the right wing back.

Invicta were close again seconds later when Billy Hawes blocked a close range Mark Saunders shot after a touch from Remy inside the penalty area had fallen to the player-coach.

Martin then got down to save from Manny Williams at the expense of a corner after 16 minutes.

Leyton centre half Scott Honeyball was booked for bad challenge on Abel after 22 minutes and Watson blasted over from close range when Lamb sent in the subsequent free kick.

Watson then had a free header at Lunan from a Lamb free kick after 37 minutes following a late challenge by Leyton captain Rio Alderton on Saunders.

James Everitt was wide two minutes later with a glancing header at the far post from a Watson free kick.

Leyton had the better chances during the second half as Allen shot wastefully wide across goal from the right hand side after 56 minutes when he got in behind Lamb following a good crossfield ball from Alderton.

Allen was wide again with a free close range header after 69 minutes when Dean Palmer played the ball in from the left hand side.

Martin held a long range shot from Mark Sophocleous after 70 minutes and one-time Dover Athletic player Palmer curled wide from the left hand side of the penalty area after receiving the ball from Leli Bajada three minutes later.

Palmer headed wide from close range when Hawes played the ball in from the right after 74 minutes and Watson got a vital headed touch to substitute Roy Parkyn’s cross from the left five minutes later when Palmer headed over again.

Invicta’s James Everitt was booked for late challenge on Palmer on the hour.

But this game will forever be remembered for the inexplicable denial of a penalty to the younger Everitt brother right at the end.

Neil Cugley takes his side to Hendon on Monday night before welcoming leaders Chelmsford City to the Buzzlines Stadium next Saturday.

Leyton: Lunan, Hawes, Soteriou (Parkyn 59), Gracey, Honeyball, Alderton, Palmer, Bajada (Protain 84), Williams, Sophocleous (Thomas 85), Allen. Subs: Sifonios, Cox.

Folkestone Invicta: Martin, Watson, Lamb (Friend 71), Flanagan, J. Everitt, Saunders (Sly 69), M. Everitt, Abel (Jones 80), Remy, Corbett, Okikiolu. Subs: Rainbow, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 105