Folkestone Invicta slumped out of the F. A. Trophy as they lost Tuesday night’s Preliminary Round replay away to Chatham Town at Maidstone Road.

It might have been a different story had James Corbett not had a first half penalty saved by Chatham goalkeeper James Smith.

But the home side went on to win thanks to second half goals from Justin Ascheri and substitute Simon Austin.

Chatham then had goalkeeper Smith controversially sent off for time wasting deep into stoppage time.

Smith had been booked for bringing down striker James Dryden to concede the first half penalty after a move involving Scott Lindsey and Corbett (right).

But the Chatham goalkeeper turned from villain to hero as he got down to his right to keep out Corbett’s 26th minute spot kick.

Dryden himself had lined up to take the penalty but had to leave the field because he had received treatment from the physio.

Chatham opened the scoring in the 59th minute when ASCHERI hit a low shot across goal into the far corner of the net when Mark Brooks played the ball across from the right hand side.

And substitute AUSTIN increased the lead with a sweet 81st minute strike into the far corner of the net.

Goalkeeper Smith was then needlessly sent off for a second yellow card as he took his time over a goal kick and defender Dan Larkin had to play out the final seconds in goal.

But Invicta failed to find the net for the first time this season and made a miserable exit.

The visitors brought Corbett back from injury in place of Nick Humphrey (attending a funeral), with summer signing Craig Wilkins moving back from attack to centre half.

In the opening exchanges, a tenth minute shot from Chatham’s David Botterill lacked power when Darren Smith played him through the middle and Charlie Mitten was able to make a comfortable save as the Chatham man was under pressure from Liam Friend.

At the other end, a 12th minute Corbett shot took a deflection off Dryden, but Smith got down to save at his near post.

A 25-yard Jimmy Jackson flashed past the Chatham post from the left hand side after 18 minutes.

And Invicta had the perfect chance to open the scoring when referee N. Lugg from Chipstead awarded them their penalty.

James Everitt then had a 32nd minute shot saved by Smith when a good ball from striking partner Dryden put him through.

For Chatham, Botterill shot just wide from the edge of the penalty five minutes later after getting in behind Lindsey.

Chatham threatened at the start of the second half as Invicta centre half Matt Bourne (left) got up bravely to block a Richard Avery header and a good 58th minute shot from Smith from 25 yards was saved by Mitten.

And Ascheri’s goal put the home side ahead.

Invicta responded by pushing Wilkins forward and home defender Larkin headed a Friend free kick out for a corner after 58 minutes. Bourne then headed over from the subsequent set piece on the left.

Wilkins then struck the far post from a 73rd minute Jackson free kick.

Chatham themselves threatened on the break but Ascheri put the ball too far in front of Smith down the middle after 76 minutes.

Dryden was wide for Invicta in the 78th minute when Friend brought the ball forward on his 100th starting appearance for the club.

And Austin made a big impact soon after replacing fellow goalscorer Ascheri as he produced the real moment of quality on the game to give Chatham breathing space.

Goalkeeper Smith’s late dismissal will have taken some of the gloss of Chatham’s victory.

There were also bookings for Chatham’s Avery, Ascheri and Lee Maskell and for Invicta’s Lindsey, Everitt and Corbett.

CHATHAM TOWN: J. Smith, Binks, Larkin, Solly, Avery, Best (Scott 48 mins), D. Smith (Lyons 90 mins), Brookes, Asheri (Austin 77 mins), Maskell, Botterill.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten, Gledhill, Green, Friend, Bourne, Wilkins, Lindsey, J. Everitt, Dryden, Corbett, Jackson. Unused subs: M. Everitt, Swallow, Burchell, Conyers.

Attendance: 154.