Folkestone stayed unbeaten this season as a result of a 87th minute equaliser.
They got out of jail in an entertaining game which ebbed and flowed but just as on Wednesday showed character and this augers well for the long season ahead.
Leatherhead came out of the blocks the quickest & nearly took the lead in the second minute when Zaki Ouasiah’s long kick was flicked on by Will Seager for John Ufuah to run on to but his shot from 15 yards was saved by Tim Roberts.
Three minutes later Folkestone could or maybe should have scored when Sam Hasler’s free kick from the left went to the back post where Jerson Dos Santos put his header from 5 yards over the bar.
In the 12th minute Johan Ter Horst was put through by Dos Santos and he raced clear of the defenders into the area where his shot was pushed around the post by Oualah.
Folkestone were now taking charge of the game and moments later Kieron McCann’s cross to the near post saw Scott Heard’s flicked header go just over the bar.
Another chance came in the 25th minute when Finn O’Mara received the ball on the right and his low cross from the by-line was met by a rushing Heard but his shot went past the post.
Leatherhead survived this and then created a few chances of their own. Firstly in the 33rd minute Eddie Dsane cut inside from the left and his shot from distance went over the bar.
Seven minutes later they took the lead when Misha Djemaili’s corner was hooked in by Jerry Nnamani to give Leatherhead a half time lead.
The second half started with Folkestone creating chances and Ira Jackson threatened with his curling effort from 20 yards flying over the bar.
Another glorious chance came when a quick free sent Ter Horst away and his low cross from the by-line found Heard 10 yards out but his shot went over the bar.
Three minutes later Dos Santos’s flicked header was saved by Oualah before Leatherhead created their first chance of the half after soaking up the pressure.
Jack Skinner received the ball on the left & his low cross to the back post saw Ufuah sliding in but he placed his effort wide.
Folkestone cotinued to press and Jackson went close with a free kick from 20 yards that was tipped over the bar by Oualah.
Time was running out for Folkestone and nine minutes from time Roberts came to their rescue when Skinner saw his shot pushed away and cleared.
The clock was ticking but Folkestone eventually found an equaliser when Jackson was fouled an inch outside the area.
He stepped up and curled the free kick into the top left hand corner to rescue a point for Folkestone and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
FOLKESTONE INVICTA:
- T.ROBERTS 2. F.O’MARA 3. A.PAXMAN 4. M.NEWMAN 5. C.DAVIES 6. S.HASLER (45) 7. S.HEARD 8. M.EVERITT (75) 9. J.TER HORST 10. J.DOS SANTOS 11. K.McCANN
SUBS USED: 12. I.JACKSON (45) 15. R.DOLAN (75)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. N.BLANKS 16. K.JONES 17. H.NEWCOMBE
BOOKINGS: 7. S.HEARD (62) 8. M.EVERITT (75)
LEATHERHEAD:
- Z.OUALAH 2. I.IKEBUASI 3. M.DJEMAILI 4. C.HESTER-COOK 5. W.SALMON 6. J.NNAMANI 7. D.GALLAGHER 8. W.SEAGER 9. E.DSANE 10. J.SKINNER 11. J.UFUA
SUBS NOT USED: 12. C.McGEE 14. A.BLAKE 15. C.DAWKINS
BOOKINGS: 4. C.HEATER-COOK (70)
REFEREE: Mr I.FISSENDEN
ASSISTANTS: Mr J.DANN-PYE & Mr D.FRIAR