Folkestone Invicta boss Jay Saunders reacts to 1-1 National League South draw against Horsham in midweek

Manager Jay Saunders felt Folkestone ran out of steam in the second half of the home National League South draw against Horsham on Tuesday night.

Invicta broke the deadlock through forward Aaron Cosgrave’s second goal of the season but were pegged back after the restart.

Indeed, it was the depleted Hornets, who made two first-half changes and also changed goalkeepers at half-time, that looked the more likely to win it by the end as it finished 1-1 at Cheriton Road - just a second draw for the West Sussex side in the past 13 meetings at the ground.

Saunders felt the final result was a fair one.

Saunders, whose side came into the contest after last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at Torquay United, reflected: “We started quite well.

“Obviously, we went 1-0 up and then I thought we looked tired after that. It was a long trip to Torquay at the weekend.

“I thought that took a lot out of us - we put a lot into the second half - and we looked like we had run out of steam in the second half, and Horsham grew into the game, so I thought a draw was a fair result tonight.

“As much as they sort of had good possession in the second half, Ted [Collins, Invicta’s No.1] didn’t have a lot to do, other than pick the ball out of his net. The first half, I felt we had really good spells but did we work their keeper enough?

“Maybe not.”

Horsham took off defender Lee Harding and attacker Reece Meekums in the opening 45 minutes while No.1 Sam Howes, who had collided with Harding, also didn’t come back out for the second period. Howes was replaced by teenage debutant Will Heater, who spent six months on loan at Isthmian South East side Sheppey United last term.

But Saunders denied that had an impact on his charges.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “Like I