Heybridge Swifts 1 Folkestone Invicta 1 (aet. Heybridge won 3-2 on pens)

FOLKESTONE Invicta suffered the heartbreak of defeat on penalties as they lost the shoot out 3-2 to Heybridge Swifts on a cold night in Essex in the quarter finals of the Bryco Cup following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

After going out of the FA Cup this season at home to Harrow Borough and last season away to Welling on penalties, this was another cruel cup exit for Neil Cugley’s side.

The penalty shoot out got off to a poor start for Invicta as Micheal Everitt struck the first kick over the crossbar and Simon Glover then had his penalty saved by goalkeeper Paul Rutherford.

Invicta were thrown a lifeline when Ian Cousins hit Heybridge’s second penalty over the crossbar, but when Rutherford saved Invicta’s final penalty taken by James Everitt it meant that the home side did not have to take their last kick.

There had been successful strikes for Heybridge’s Scott Forbes, Kelly Pollard and Cliff Akurang and for Invicta defenders Paul Lamb and Adam Flanagan.

The game itself had finished 1-1 at Scraley Road, with both goals coming in extra time as former Chelsea youngster Akurang put Heybridge ahead after 99 minutes, only for Glover to equalise after 109 minutes.

Akurang, a recent signing from Conference South club Thurrock opened the scoring from close range after Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell had saved an initial shot.

Invicta responded at the start of the second period of extra time as James Everitt went close after a Glover shot was charged down and the visitors’ protested in vain for a penalty for handball.

And Glover made it 1-1 when he thumped the ball home following a corner from the left hand side.

Kessell then made a great tip over to deny Mike Shinn with five minutes of extra time remaining and Invicta survived again a minute later when former Margate striker Jean-Michael Sigere’s low ball in from the right was only sliced away and it was then Heybridge’s turn to have penalty appeals for handball turned down when the ball was deflected off the line.

Invicta had centre half John Guest back from suspension in a five-man defence which saw teenager Will Dunlop make a first starting appearance. Captain Scott Lindsey, however, was a late withdrawal as his wife gave birth to a baby girl late in the afternoon, with Mark Munday taking over as skipper. Coincidentally, Heybridge assistant manager Barry Lakin also became the father of a baby girl on Tuesday.

Heybridge are currently on a good run under new manager Brian Statham and were close as early as the second minute when big centre half Chris Wild poked the ball wide.

For Invicta, centre half Flanagan mis-kicked when Glover played the ball in from the left after 34 minutes. James Everitt then drilled a low shot wide when the ball fell to him on the right hand side in a first half of few clear cut chances.

Invicta had the ball in the net after 57 minutes when Flanagan turned the ball in after Sykes had nodded on a Guest free kick, but the 'goal' was ruled out for offside when the ball originally came in.

Two minutes later, Shinn shot over from just outside the box at the other end. The same player then curled a shot wide as Heybridge threatened again after 69 minutes with the tie delicately poised.

Michael Everitt had a fierce shot defelcted wide a minute later and Rutherford made a fine save to deny James Dryden with nine minutes to go.

Invicta had James Everitt to thank when he cleared off the line at the far post after Wild met a corner from the right.

With extra time looming, Kessell made a brilliant stoppage time save from Akurang after Guest had been caught in possession inside his own penalty area.

But the drama had only just started.

Folkestone Invicta: Kessell, J. Everitt, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Dunlop, M. Everitt, Munday, Dryden, Glover, Sykes (Neilson 76 mins). Subs Not Used: Walker, Watson, Morrin.