Folkestone Invicta's unbeaten away record came to an end when they went down 1-0 against ten-men Croydon Athletic at the KT Stadium on Tuesday night.

This was an eagerly anticipated encounter between the runaway Ryman League Division One South leaders (Invicta) and many people's favourites for the title (Croydon), between the division's top goalscorers (Croydon) and the team with the best defensive record (Invicta).

The three points take Croydon into second place in the table eight points behind Invicta and one sending off and six second half bookings emphasise the win-at-all-costs mentality the home club brought into the game.

This was clearly a must-win game for Croydon in their attempts to overhaul Invicta in the title run-in to come.

And centre half Jeremy Williams's bundled 74 th minute goal was enough to inflict Invicta's first defeat on their travels in all competitions since April 18, 2009.

The game's other main talking point had come ten minutes earlier when Croydon's Tom Bolarinwa went down inside the penalty area and received a second yellow card for simulation from referee David Spain.

Bolarinwa had earlier been booked in the 55 th minute for a challenge on Invicta left back Josh Burchell.

But Invicta were unable to make their extra man advantage count and Croydon added pace to their attack with the introduction of substitutes Gary Noel and Leslie Thompson.

Home striker Gareth Williams put the ball into the Invicta net after a pass from Danny Waldren as early as the fourth minute, but an assistant referee's flag had long been up for offside.

At the other end, Jimmy Jackson, captain Micheal Everitt and striker James Everitt all had 17 th minute shots blocked when Josh Vincent played the ball in from the right hand side after receiving it from Darren Smith.

Croydon striker Ben Godfrey shot over from close range in the 23 rd minute after a ball from Ben Lewis when the game's first corner from the right hand side was played short and came back in.

Chris Piper then turned and hit a low shot from the edge of the penalty area four minutes later that was comfortably saved by Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo.

Experience home central defender Lewis had been limping for most of the first half and was replaced by Daniel Sintim before the interval.

Croydon made a purposeful start to the second half and substitute Sintim headed over a 53 rd minute Hill corner from the right.

Bolarinwa was close to breaking the deadlock when Delo saved with his legs after a 64 th minute corner came back out to the edge of the penalty area. And Bolarinwa was at the centre of the drama seconds later with his sending off.

Pre-match talk had centred on home striker Williams who had scored a hat-trick against Leatherhead on Saturday and who once scored a pre-season second half hat-trick for Bromley at Folkestone.

But the former Wales Under 21 international and striking partner Godfrey were replaced by the quick Noel and Thompson and it was the striker's namesake centre half Williams who was to emerge as the match winner.

The only goal of the game followed a corner on the right hand side which was initially cleared but came back in from Hill and WILLIAMS had a first shot from the edge of the area blocked before scoring from close range, with Noel also involved.

Invicta made a double substitution of their own with the introduction of strikers James Dryden and Peter Williams and centre half Frankie Chappell also finished the game in a centre forward's role.

Chappell headed over an 82 nd minute Burchell cross from the left when Jackson played the ball out wide.

As Invicta chased an equaliser in the final ten minutes, an 89 th minute James Everitt shot flashed past the post from the edge of the penalty area after a move involving Burchell and Jackson down the left.

And Chappell headed wide when Burchell played another ball in from the left during stoppage time.

But there was to be no way back for the visitors who did not win a corner throughout the match.

As well as Bolarinwa's sending off, there were second half bookings for Croydon's Godfrey, Jeremy Williams, Thompson, Chris Bourne and Waldren and for Invicta's James Everitt and Chappell.

Invicta defenders Vincent and Liam Dickson both made their 50 th starting appearances for the club.

CROYDON ATHLETIC : Morgan, Howe, Bourne, Waldren, J. Williams, Lewis (Sintim 32 mins), Bolarinwa, Piper, Godfrey (Noel 67 mins), G. Williams (Thompson 67 mins), Hill. Unused subs : Sharman, Graham.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith, Dickson (Williams 80 mins), J. Everitt, Austin (Dryden 80 mins), Jackson. Unused subs : Spiller, Bartrum, Dix.

Attendance : 137.