Folkestone Invicta boss Jay Saunders reacts to extraordinary 3-3 Isthmian Premier draw against Carshalton Athletic as champions-elect move within two points of winning league title

Manager Jay Saunders felt that expectations Folkestone would beat Carshalton and seal the title impacted his players on Saturday.

On a dramatic and topsy-turvy afternoon, the Isthmian Premier leaders fought back from 3-1 down at half-time to draw 3-3 in front of a bumper crowd of 2,097 at Cheriton Road.

Folkestone broke the deadlock in the first 15 minutes through wing-back Ben Mason and were set to be crowned champions at that stage - with results elsewhere going their way - until three goals inside 11 first-half minutes from the Robins put a major dampener on things.

Goals from defender Liam Smith and substitute Ryan Kingsford then got Folkestone back level in the second half and, as second-placed Aveley, ultimately, were beaten while third-placed Chatham drew 0-0 at Brentwood, Saunders’ side found themselves a goal away from clinching the title.

But Invicta’s promotion party was put on hold for another day, with two points now needed.

Asked if the party atmosphere off the pitch had impacted his players’ performance, Saunders replied: “I think so.

“Everyone kept talking about ‘Oh, we’re going to win it today’, and ‘We can do this’ and ‘We can do that.’. But I’m a nightmare. I’m the most superstitious person ever!

“Whenever anyone was saying anything like that to me, I was saying ‘I don’t want to hear it! We have got to win two games.’. I think it’s hard for the players.

“As much as we have been saying to concentrate on getting the wins, you do hear all the noise as players. You come here and, all of a sudden, there’s 2,000 people.

“The referee (Harry Wood) was saying about a pitch invasion at the end. I’m saying to the referee ‘You don’t need to say that in front of the boys.’. But it is what it is.

“Two points or one