Hastings United suffered Ryman South One play-off agony tonight as they lost 3-2 after extra time at Folkestone Invicta in their semi-final.
Battling United twice fought back against Invicta to force the game into extra time only to be undone by a cruel own goal.
Frankie Chappell gave Folkestone an eighth-minute lead as he flicked in a cross from the left.
But Tim Olorunda levelled for Hastings four minutes after the break when he converted a Sam Adams cross.
Folkestone retook the lead in the 67th minute when Johan Ter Horst pulled a low cross back across the Hastings area and Dane Luchford arrived to bury his finish past Josh Pelling.
Hastings came back again in the 75th minute when Folkestone failed to clear their lines and Adams drilled home from outside the area with the aid of a deflection.
A cagey extra time was decided by substitute Nathan Ferguson’s own goal as he attempted to block a pass but the ball looped high over the keeper from 30 yards out.
Folkestone will now play Leatherhead in the final with the prize of promotion to the Ryman premier at stake.
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