Folkestone Invicta were beaten 3-2 away to Leatherhead on a sunny Saturday afternoon after trailing 3-0 before late goals from Jimmy Jackson and James Dryden put a bit more respectability on the final scoreline.

But this was another disappointing defeat for the Folkestone side after their midweek F. A. Trophy exit at Chatham Town.

Playing their first game under caretaker manager Mickey Stephens, the home side gave their new boss a perfect start with goals from strikers Tommy Hutchings (2) and Will Jenkins.

Goals in the final ten minutes from Jackson and Dryden then threatened the save the day for Invicta on their first ever visit to Fetcham Grove.

Invicta went into the game with Nick Humphrey (right) back in place of Craig Wilkins, although the latter was soon called into the action after an early injury to captain lee Gledhill.

But it was Leatherhead who opened the scoring as early was the seventh minute when top goalscorer HUTCHINGS latched onto a Tony Cuff ball over the middle of the defence and went round Charlie mitten to plant the ball into the net after the goalkeeper had got a hand to his initial lob.

Aaron Cole-Bolt hit a low shot at Mitten from the edge of the penalty area in the 20th minute when Cuff squared the ball across and Hutchings shot wide when he tried his luck from distance six minutes later.

At the other end, Dryden shot just wide of the far post from the left hand side of the penalty area when Wilkins flicked the ball on with Invicta’s best chance thus far in the 28th minute.

Big centre forward Jenkins headed over from a Hutchings cross from the left on the half hour mark and little Jason Henry headed against the outside of the post when Hutchings sent over the home side’s only corner of the game after 35 minutes.

Dryden shot over in the 39th minute following a move involving Wilkins and James Corbett, while home debutant goalkeeper Andy Layzell kept out a Dryden snapshot three minutes later following an exchange of passes with Corbett when centre half Matt Bourne played the ball forward.

Another Dryden shot was then kept out by Layzell during first half stoppage time.

Cuff shot at Mitten at the start of the second half when Hutchings broke forward following an Invicta free kick at the other end.

And the Tanners increased their lead in the 53rd minute when HUTCHINGS volleyed in at the far post after Cole-Bolt broke down the right hand side of the penalty area and picked him out.

The ball had broken to Cole-Bolt after a saving tackle from Humphrey to deny Jenkins when the striker raced through the middle as a Henry through ball evaded defender Bourne.

Henry could not get enough power on his 63rd minute header in the middle when Hutchings played the ball across from the left.

It was proving to be a frustrating afternoon for Invicta and defender Liam Friend was booked for bringing down Henry in the 64th minute. Dryden and James Everitt both joined him in referee Colin Lymer’s notebook for dissent as a ‘foul’ on Everitt had gone unpunished seconds earlier.

A 68th minute Jackson shot was saved by Layzell and a Dryden shot was headed off the line for a corner by a home defender when Mark Green played the ball back in.

A 72nd minute James Everitt corner was then headed onto his own crossbar and out for another corner by a Leatherhead defender.

But JENKINS stroked the ball in to make it 3-0 in the 78th minute when he exchanged passes with Henry on the right after substitute Mark Elston had emerged with the ball after a strong challenge on Humphrey.

JACKSON pulled a goal back in the 81st minute with his third goal in four matches when his free kick from the right hand edge of the penalty went in off the crossbar.

It was 3-2 in the 90th minute when DRYDEN forced the ball over the line when he got to the rebound just before Micheal Everitt after the substitute had hit the post following another Jackson free kick which led to a goal mouth scramble.

Substitute Elston shot wide at the other end.

But Invicta were chasing an unlikely equaliser and goalkeeper Mitten came forward to get a touch on a stoppage time Jackson corner on the right.

Invicta’s Humphrey was also booked for a dissent.

Transport and traffic problems meant that the supporters’ coach did not arrive back at Stripes until 10pm. Not the best of days.

LEATHERHEAD: Layzell, Holmes, Palmer, Hendry, Cartledge, Cole-Bolt (Jones 84 mins), Henry (Williams 90 mins), Robinson, Hutchings (Elston 74 mins), Jenkins, Cuff. Unused subs: Cant, Dean.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten, Gledhill (Wilkins 20 mins), Green, Friend, Bourne, J. Everitt, Lindsey (M. Everitt 60 mins), Corbett, Dryden, Humphrey, Jackson. Unused subs: Dix, Swallow.

Attendance: 180.