IRA PUTS INVICTA BACK IN THE RACE
IRA Jackson’s late winner against his former club as Folkestone reduced the gap on their table-topping opponents to two points.
The division’s top scorers looked likely to draw blanks until the 87th minute.
Finn O’Mara played in Jackson whose shot took a slight deflection and flew into the top corner via the fingertips of Worthing’s otherwise exceptional keeper Carl Rushworth.
Folkestone manager Neil Cugley told The NLP: “There are some good sides in this league and there’s still a long way to go. I said before the game, whatever the result, it’s not over yet. Even in they beat us.”
Invicta spent much of the first half penned in their own half. But they threatened on the break and Rushworth clawed Micheal Everitt’s header over in the 14th minute.
Ricky Aguiar had the Rebels’ best chance when he his 30-yard strike from a free-kick swerved inches past the post.
Jerson Dos Santos should have given Invicta the lead when he rounded Rushworth he struck the side-netting.
Dos Santos had another good chance just after the break when he latched onto Jackson’s through ball, but shot straight at Rushworth. Jackson then struck the side netting under pressure from Stevens before Rebel Ollie Pearce shot just wide.
But on 87 minutes, Worthing were hit with a late sucker punch for the second week running when Jackson struck his 24th goal of the season.
Sub Kieron Pamment nearly grabbed a 90th-minute equaliser but volleyed wide.
Cugley said of his top scorer: “He needed settle. He’s had too many clubs.
“He had a quiet game today, but that’s what forwards do.”