Folkestone Invicta 1 Leiston 1 (Leiston win 4-1 on penalties): Match reaction from Invicta joint-head coach Micheal Everitt to FA Trophy Third Round shoot-out defeat

Frustrated Folkestone joint-head coach Micheal Everitt felt a poor decision by the officials on Saturday potentially cost them a place in the FA Trophy Fourth Round.

The Isthmian Premier outfit were already 1-0 ahead at Cheriton Road against Leiston when a goal from a free-kick by midfielder Ronnie Dolan was ruled out.

It seemed the linesman disallowed the 55th-minute effort for offside after defender Ian Gayle attacked the delivery. But footage later showed the set-piece had gone straight in.

Southern Premier Central high-fliers Leiston levelled nine minutes later when midfielder Finlay Barnes found the target before they won 4-1 on penalties.

Everitt said: “I definitely would say that we were the better team. That’s why it probably hurts a little bit more.

“We’ve dominated against a good side, who are flying in their league, and we had enough chances to win the game. I think the second goal [Invicta could have had] kills us, really.

“It goes straight in. I don’t know why the linesman has taken an age to make that decision.

“It’s a poor decision and, ultimately, it’s probably cost us the chance to go through to the next round.

“When you go 2-0 up, with around 35 minutes to go, they have to really come out then and we can pick them off a little bit.

“But five minutes later, the lad’s scored a good individual goal from their point of view, to be fair.

“Then the game changes so it’s disappointing.”

Leiston had seen a 16-game unbeaten run ended the previous weekend but it was Folkestone who looked the more likely to get a winner in normal time before the Kent club were beaten in the shoot-out.

“It’s a hard pill to swallow,” reflected Everitt, in charge alongside Roland Edge.

“In the first half, I thought we were the better