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Hinckley United 1, Folkestone Invicta 2
TWO goals in the last three minutes from leading goalscorer James Dryden gave Folkestone Invicta all three points in a remarkable smash-and-grab turnaround at Hinckley on Saturday.
Invicta had trailed to a controversial penalty converted by Jamie Lenton after 70 minutes. But Dryden held his nerve to equalise after 87 minutes to end his goal drought after substitute Nicky Dent had put him through one-on-one against Azerbaidzhan Under-21 international goalkeeper Farhad Afandiyev.
It was Dryden's first league goal since November 27, but the 22-year-old striker did not have to wait long for his next one.
With Invicta seemingly on course for yet another 1-1 away draw, Dryden pounced again to net an injury time winner when centre half Scott Daniels nodded down a James Virgo cross.
Virgo had initially forced a corner with an injury time free kick, which was touched over by Afandiyev following a foul on Matt Bower on the edge of the penalty area. Hinckley appealed for offside on both of Dryden's goals, but they had the linesman at the other end to thank for their penalty when Neil Cartwright's header hit Virgo on the hand from Lenton's cross.
The strength of the home side's appeals suggested that they had a strong case, but the referee initially awarded a corner before eventually pointing to the spot after lengthy consultations with his assistant.
Invicta had survived two penalties at Weymouth the previous Saturday, but this time Lenton sent Dave Wietecha the wrong way with a well-taken kick to open the scoring.
Lee McRobert and Dent both had half chances as Invicta chased an equaliser. Invicta had came the closest during the first half when Penny cleared off the line from Dryden after 19 minutes.
Neil Cugley's side had Wietecha back in goal and centre half Andy Larkin fit again to partner Daniels and younger brother Dan at the heart of the defence.
Missing a league game for the first time was centre half Anthony Henry (ankle injury).
The first half had been no classic. But there were chances at both ends after 10 minutes as McRobert seemed as surprised as anybody when Afandiyev's attempted clearance fell to him in the box and Hinckley's Scott Huckerby did not make the most of his chance.
Wietecha made a great save after 20 minutes to deny Paul Hunter, when the Invicta defence was left exposed.
Dryden shot over when striking partner Ricky Reina used his strength to put him through after 39 minutes, and Wietecha saved Huckerby's deflected shot when Cartwright broke after 45 minutes.
Wietecha was called into action again when he saved from Hinckley captain Morton Titterton in a move involving Hunter and Jamie Williams after 52 minutes.
Invicta's Chandler was the game's only booking for an 83rd minute challenge on Hinckley's substitute Leon Blake.
Folkestone Invicta: Wietecha, Morris, Virgo, D Larkin, Daniels, A Larkin (Chandler 74 mins), Bower, Chapman, Dryden, Reina (Dent 60 mins), McRobert. Unused sub: S Hogg.