Folkestone Invicta boss Jay Saunders reacts to dramatic 2-2 Isthmian Premier draw against Dulwich Hamlet in Cheriton Road comeback on new 3G pitch

Jay Saunders described Folkestone’s display in their Isthmian Premier draw against Dulwich Hamlet as their worst this season on Saturday.

A bumper crowd of 1,379 were treated to plenty of entertainment in the club’s first match on their new 3G pitch at Cheriton Road, which ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

Trailing to Hamlet captain Nyren Clunis’ first-half effort, the home side faced an uphill battle as they had defender Liam Smith dismissed, minutes after the visitors missed a penalty - a spot-kick that Invicta boss Saunders felt shouldn’t have been awarded due to an away handball in the build-up.

Two-goal Joe Pigott appeared to have secured Folkestone an unlikely win from the top-five affair but defender Joseph Adewunmi came up with a 95th-minute goal to dampen their homecoming.

Saunders also felt debutant Ike Orji had been fouled as referee Richard Joss awarded Dulwich a stoppage-time corner that led to Adewunmi’s equaliser.

“I’ll give Dulwich some credit but that’s probably the worst we have been,” reflected Saunders, whose side remain undefeated in the league. “Maybe, we got caught-up in the occasion a little bit, although I’m not sure.

“We started okay in the first 10 minutes but we were then a bit wasteful on the ball and the decision-making (was poor).

Report: Folkestone 2-2 Dulwich Hamlet

“One of the early chances, Pigs has hit the crossbar. If that goes in, it’s a different game. Then, we conceded a really poor goal on our part.

“Even in the second half, I didn’t really think we got going. I think the officials have had a big part to play today.

“I’m not one for digging out officials but they had a massive part to play. Liam Smith gets booked, first of all, and their player clearly handballs it in the build-up to