Folkestone Invicta 3 Carshalton Athletic 3 match report: Invicta two points from Isthmian Premier title as Ben Mason nets for them in first half and Liam Smith and substitute Ryan Kingsford on target after interval

Champions-elect Folkestone inched ever closer to the Isthmian Premier title with a remarkable draw against Carshalton on Saturday.

Invicta went ahead when Ben Mason struck early, only for a first-half treble salvo inside 11 minutes to put the in-form Robins into a 3-1 half-time advantage.

Liam Smith and substitute Ryan Kingsford got Folkestone close to an incredible turnaround - but it ended 3-3 at Cheriton Road, leaving Invicta two points away from sealing their inaugural promotion to National League South.

Jay Saunders’ side created the first chance as defender Denzel Owoahene-Akyeampong blocked to deny Donell Thomas, who was attempting to make the most of a Jake Hutchinson lay-off in the 10th minute.

Four minutes later, Folkestone went ahead and - as it stood - were going up as champions, with Cray Wanderers also taking an early lead at Aveley.

Wing-back Mason fired past Polish keeper Hubert Graczyk from close range from a delivery by the recalled Josh Strouts for his eighth goal of the campaign in front of a bumper crowd.

But the Robins hit back to equalise with 20 minutes played. Ryan Huke fired towards goal and, while Ted Collins got his hand to the powerful effort, the home goalkeeper wasn’t able to keep the ball out his net.

And Steven Bates’ in-form away team took the lead with a goal-of-the-season contender.

Forward Tolu Ladapo cut inside and blasted beyond Collins to find the top corner from about 25 yards out to stun the fans that had headed to the ground in a buoyant mood.

It got worse for the hosts on 31 minutes, too.

Invicta failed to clear their lines from a corner by Eddie Allsopp against his former club and that left the ball to deflect off Nathan Young-Coombes to tamely crawl into the net for his third