FOLKESTONE Invicta may find themselves up against former England star Paul Gascoigne if the 35-year-old accepts an offer to play for Carshalton Athletic.

The Ryman League Division 1 side are managed by ex-Spurs star Graham Roberts, a former team-mate of Gazza at Glasgow Rangers, and the Surrey club are reported to have offered Gascoigne a three-month contract to help him get fit for a new start in the USA.

Invicta play away to Carshalton in the FA Trophy on Saturday, November 2, and will be watching developments in the possible sensational transfer deal with close interest.

INVICTA boss Neil Cugley hailed what he described as "one of the best results of my managerial career'' as his young side came back from conceding an early goal to win 2-1 away to one of the championship favourites.

To beat Newport County in front of an 884 crowd on Saturday afternoon was the perfect pick-me-up for Invicta after their disappointing 2-1 bank holiday defeat at home to local rivals Dover Athletic, and was all the more remarkable as 10 of the squad of 14 were aged 22 or under.

"It's the first time I've ever come away from there having avoided a heavy defeat, let alone winning,'' said a delighted Cugley. Invicta had suffered their heaviest defeats of the previous two seasons at Newport, crashing 5-0 and 4-1 with makeshift sides.

And when Paul Chambers and Scott Lindsey joined Martin Chandler, Anthony Henry and Andy Morris on the injury list, optimism was not high, especially after Scott Walker had given Newport the lead as early as the sixth minute.

But James Dryden made it 1-1 with a brilliant finish after 31 minutes and Steve Restarick nodded in a long Dryden throw after 52 minutes to set up a famous victory.

THE RESERVES came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Deal Town Reserves on Saturday afternoon. Lee Winfield pulled a goal back before half time, and Paul Morris equalised with a second half header.