Folkestone Invicta 1 Horsham 1 match report: National League South game ends level with Invicta forward Aaron Cosgrave’s first-half goal cancelled out

Aaron Cosgrave’s first-half goal was cancelled out in Folkestone’s National League South home draw against Horsham on Tuesday.

Forward Cosgrave put Invicta into a 1-0 half-time lead but midfielder Charlie Hester-Cook equalised for the injury-hit Hornets, who were even forced to bring on a substitute goalkeeper, as they earned just a second draw in 13 visits to the ground as it finished 1-1 at Cheriton Road.

Jay Saunders’ side, who were edged out 3-2 at Torquay United at the weekend, created the first opportunity of an even first period. It saw Cosgrave test goalkeeper Sam Howes as he tried to make the most of defender Liam Smith’s through ball in the ninth minute.

A stoppage in play followed that saw Howes and defender Lee Harding collide, the latter unable to continue due to the knock he got.

As the away team started to play themselves into the contest, home keeper Ted Collins had to be alert to gather a dangerous low left-wing delivery midway through the first period before attacker Reece Meekums also threatened, minutes later, to no avail.

But Invicta swiftly headed to the other end where Cosgrave drilled low past Howes from playmaker Donell Thomas’ pass to break the deadlock on 28 minutes. It was just his second goal of the season.

Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola made a second first-half change that saw attacker Jamie Yila come on for Meekums as their injury problems, seemingly, continued.

There was then a frantic finish to five minutes of first-half injury time that saw chances made at either end, but it was the hosts who found themselves in front at the interval.

The luckless Hornets were forced into yet another substitution at half-time as debutant teenager Will Heater, who enjoyed a six-month loan stint with Isthmian South East side Sheppey United from League 2 Crawley last term, replaced Howes between the sticks in another reshuffle.

And the 19-year-old made an excellent low fingertip save to deny Cosgrave after Thomas had sent him through.

Horsham felt they had found an equaliser when striker Greg Luer met captain James Hammond’s corner with a near-post flick. But the ball, somehow, bounced clear and away from danger with 57 minutes played.

Five minutes later at the other end, defender Jamie Fielding glanced wide a free-kick from the recalled Reggie Young.

That miss looked all the more costly on 65 minutes, too, when Hester-Cook burst forward from midfield to net just his second goal of the season to spark joyous scenes for the away contingent that had undertaken the 180-mile round journey.

Soon after, Folkestone striker Joe Piggott nodded an in-swinging delivery from the impressive Thomas narrowly over Heater’s goal.

Luer, 31, came close through a shot that curled just over at the other end with 12 minutes left.

Indeed, it was the Hornets that were now looking the much more likely to win it but substitute Ronan Silva blazed over with a gilt-edged chance on 85 minutes when he should have done better.

Both teams pushed for a winner in three minutes of stoppage time, albeit no real late clear-cut openings appeared.

It leaves Folkestone sixth in the early standings, two points ahead of Horsham.

The hosts made three changes from the outfit that started at Torquay United.

Midfielders Harvey Kedwell and Adam Lovatt came into the team alongside wideman Young for Alejandro Machado and Alex Woodyard, with defender Dan Quick.

Horsham’s starting line-up included former Gillingham striker Ashley Nadesan and one-time Maidstone man Luer while Yila, formerly of Chatham Town and Maidstone United, was on the substitutes’ bench.

Invicta will host fellow newly-promoted club Farnham this weekend.

Folkestone Invicta: Collins, Mason, Smith, Fielding, Lokko, Thomas (Woodyard 84mins), Cosgrave (Mutale 75mins), Lovatt, Young, H.Kedwell (Machado 75mins), Pigott. Subs not used: Ajuchi, West, Francis, P.Kedwell.

Horsham: Howes (Heater 46mins), Harding (Taylor 19mins), Elliott, Bartley, Sparks, Hester-Cook, Hammond, Barker, Luer, Nadesan (Silva 71mins), Meekums (Yila 38mins). Subs not used: Strange, Haigh.

Referee: Jonathon Wilks.

Attendance: 792.