Whitstable Town 1-1 Folkestone Invicta - Whitstable slump to rock bottom despite ending goal drought

Both goals came either side of half time as top goalscorer James Dryden opened the scoring for Invicta in the 45^th minute, only for Jake Gess to equalise for the Oystermen in the 48^th minute.

Dryden put the visitors ahead when he converted from close range in the middle after Micheal Everitt had done well down the left hand side and played a low ball across the Whitstable goalmouth.

But Gess levelled with a looping header at the start of the second half after Liam Quinn had played the ball forward as Whitstable ended something of a goal drought.

Despite the point, Whitstable dropped to the bottom of the Ryman League division One South table as a result of Crowborough Athletic’s 3-0 home win over Walton Casuals.

There had earlier been chances at both ends in the fifth minute. First James Everitt was denied by home goalkeeper Kevin Fewell when Dryden put his striking partner clear following a good ball forward from centre half Liam Friend.

Whitstable striker Dan Wisker then lobbed the ball over the crossbar after Invicta goalkeeper Charlie mitten had punched the ball away to just outside the penalty area.

Left back Danny Tipple was enjoying a lot of space for Whitstable but crossed too deep when Mark Munday played the ball out wide.

Jack Tanner then played the ball in from the right hand side in the 13^th minute following a crossfield ball from Tipple.

Dryden headed wide a deep Friend cross from the left after 16 minutes.

But the home side had further chances as Tanner’s cross from the right was put out for the game’s first corner after a Munday ball and Mitten came out to make a vital save after 21 minutes when Tipple put the ball through to David Cory.

Mitten then got down to save one-handed to prevent Clint Gooding from breaking the deadlock when he was put through down the middle in the 23^rd minute - and Gess then headed straight at Mitten.

For Invicta, Dryden did not make the most of his headed chance in the 34^th minute from a Jimmy Jackson cross and then another Jackson pass skidded just past James Everitt.

Invicta were close when Dryden headed the ball just in front of Jackson after a Micheal Everitt ball across from the right hand side of the penalty area.

Whitstable’s Wisker was booked for a 44^th minute challenge on Matt Bourne and Munday joined him in referee Ian Crouch’s notebook right on half time for a challenge which put Invicta left back Mark Green out of the game.

Jackson switched to wing back for the second half, with James Everitt dropping back into midfield and summer signing Craig Wilkins coming on in attack for his debut after a recent knee operation.

Dryden headed at Fewell from Jackson’s 54^th minute cross from the left after a good run forward from Friend.

Micheal Everitt then shot over from the edge of the penalty area seven minutes later as Invicta pressed to regain their lead.

A Wisker shot was deflected for a Whitstable corner.

But Invicta were close in the 72^nd minute when Whitstable defender Tipple did well to block a Wilkins shot after a well-worked move involving Friend and James Everitt created an opening inside the penalty area.

An 84^th minute cross from Invicta captain Lee Gledhill set up a chance for Dryden and a Micheal Everitt shot was charged down.

Invicta eventually introduced substitute Byron Walker in an attempt to grab all three points but had to settle for a draw.

Whitstable Town: Fewell, Thomas, Tipple, Quinn, Gooding, Campbell, Tanner (Perona 63), Munday (Pulman 86), Wisker (Parker 76), Cory, Gess.
Subs: Sayer, McVicar.

Folkestone Invicta: Mitten, Gledhill, Green (Wilkins 45), Friend, Bourne, M. Everitt, Lindsey, J. Everitt, Dryden, Humphrey, Jackson (Walker 85).
Subs: Burchell, Byrne, Conyers.

Attendance: 190