Enfield Town picked up a helpful point in a 1-1 draw away at fourth-placed Folkestone Invicta as they continued their hunt for a play-off spot in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Billy Bricknell’s early strike put the Towners in front at the BuildKent Stadium, but Ira Jackson equalised on 21 minutes to ensure a share of the spoils.

The result means Town are nine points shy of the play-offs but they have three games in hand on fifth-placed Carshalton Athletic, and one in hand on both Folkestone and Horsham.

There was to be an early let-off for Town when Nathan McDonald’s punched clearance fell to Matt Newman on the edge of the box, and his effort whistled narrowly over the bar.

With six minutes played, though, Enfield took the lead when a long kick from McDonald was caught by the wind and went over the head of the retreating Callum Davies. Bricknell got in behind the defender and, after spotting Tim Roberts off his line, sent a 25-yard lob over the keeper and into the corner.

It nearly became two in quick succession for the away side when Ryan Blackman headed narrowly wide from a corner, and soon after Ken Charles was only denied by an offside flag.

The home side regrouped following that broken down Enfield move and started to come into the game more.

Goalscorer Jackson was unlucky to not get on the scoresheet earlier than he did when he poked an effort towards goal that came back off the post.

He did level things up on 21 minutes though when McDonald could only parry Kieron McCann’s drive into Jackson’s path, and he made no mistake with the simple finish.

Jackson almost turned provider in Folkestone’s next attack, but his cutback was missed by everybody in the box before being cleared.

Invicta remained on top at the start of the second half and would have gone ahead were it not for McDonald, who produced an excellent save to keep out a Jackson free-kick.

Bricknell tried another audacious effort to get Town back in front, but goalkeeper Roberts was equal to the lobbed effort this time before he again denied Bricknell minutes later, saving with his legs after the striker had been put through on goal.

Two substitutes combined to almost had Town a winner when Lyle Della-Verde’s cross just evaded Junior Mubiayi, and the latter had another late effort well saved down low by Roberts, which preserved the 1-1 scoreline.

Next up for Town is another away encounter at the slightly closer to home Bishop's Stortford tomorrow night, kicking off at 7.45pm.