Tamworth 1, Folkestone Invicta 1

FOLKESTONE Invicta came back with a highly creditable point from league leaders Tamworth in front of an expectant 955 crowd at the Lamb Ground.

Striker Nicky Dent scored Invicta's equaliser in the 54th minute after Darren Roberts had given Tamworth the lead after eight minutes. The statistics were against Neil Cugley's side going into the game as Tamworth topped the table and boasted the only unbeaten home record in the Dr Martens League.

The Lambs had the best defensive record in the Premier Division and were the second highest goalscorers. The first half followed the above script as the home side had all the chances.

But they did not make the most of their ascendancy, attacking down the slope, and ultimately paid the price for not putting the game beyond Invicta's reach during that opening period. It was a different story after the interval as Invicta gave a much better account of themselves and could even have won the game.

Striker Roberts gave Tamworth their early lead when David Foy played the ball across from right to left, and Roberts wrong-footed centre half Scott Daniels before drilling a low shot into the net. Roberts was close again after 13 minutes when his shot was deflected for a corner after the ball was played to him down the right hand channel.

Invicta offered little as an attacking threat during the first half, and lost Lee McRobert with a knee injury after 31 minutes which gave a chance to third striker John Ayling.

Lee Wilson failed to connect when Roberts was given on-side down the left and crossed into the middle for Tamworth. It took Invicta only five minutes to threaten after the re-start as James Virgo chipped over when James Dryden played the ball to him.

And three minutes later the scores were level as captain Danny Chapman played the ball forward. Dryden won possession and his shot across goal was parried by goalkeeper Darren Action into the path of Dent, who tapped the rebound home.

It was the striker's first goal since November, but takes him clear as Invicta's Premier Division goalscorer so far this season. The visitors were almost ahead just three minutes later when Dryden went round goalkeeper Action after a great ball over the home defence from Anthony Henry, only for defender Mark Turner to somehow get back and clear off the line.

Wilson shot over for Tamworth when Rob Warner's throw in from the right fell to him inside the box after 61 minutes. And there was a real scare for Invicta after 66 minutes, when substitute Scott Rickards lobbed the stranded Dave Wietecha, but the ball hit the top of the crossbar and ended up on the roof of the net.

But Invicta threatened to turn the game around again after 70 minutes, when Ayling shot just wide of the far post after exchanging passes with Dryden. Ayling was then denied by goalkeeper Action when the Tamworth defence failed to clear after 77 minutes.

The home side had chances to win it themselves as Invicta substitute Steve Hogg made a heroic goal-line clearance from Rickards after 80 minutes when Turner went through and the ball bobbled ominously inside the Invicta box. And Wietecha came to Invicta's rescue after 83 minutes with a brilliant save to keep out a header from substitute Mark Hallam.

Folkestone Invicta: Wietecha, Morris (S Hogg 62 mins), Virgo, D Larkin, Daniels, McRobert (Ayling 31 mins), Chandler, Chapman, Dryden, Dent, Henry. Unused sub: Towse.