Folkestone Invicta's F. A. Cup dreams were evaporated when they lost for the first time this season in Saturday's First Qualifying Round tie against Sittingbourne at a sunny but windy Buzzlines Stadium.

Nick Reeves' 57 th minute header was the first goal Invicta have conceded at home so far this season and was only the second goal the Folkestone side has let in following a run of five successive clean sheets.

And it was to prove costly as Sittingbourne took the spoils and the £3,000 prize-money on offer.

Centre half REEVES made the game's decisive contribution when he headed Adam Cottrell's free kick from the right into the far corner of the net to break the stalemate in what always looked like being a low-scoring encounter.

Reeves and former Invicta centre half Matt Bourne defended well at the heart of the Sittingbourne defence and goalscorer Reeves cleared from the line in the 84 th minute when a Jimmy Jackson ball found Darren Smith inside the penalty area and James Dryden tried to put the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble.

Dryden had come back into Invicta's starting line up following his knee injury in place of James Everitt who had to watch from the sidelines on crutches after breaking bones in his foot in the previous Saturday's 3-0 home win over Horsham YMCA.

Chances were few and far between during the first half as Reeves headed over the bar from a 19 th minute free kick.

For Invicta, a Smith free kick from the edge of the penalty area was blocked by Reeves and Jackson's shot from distance was always going wide when the ball came back out.

It was to be a more open second half as Sittingbourne's Hicham Akhazzan took the ball on in midfield and his 49 th minute shot dipped just over the crossbar with the best moment of the tie thus far.

Invicta right back Josh Vincent cleared from close to the line in the 56 th minute after a scramble in the box and Bourne tried his luck from distance when the ball came back out.

And Reeves' goal a minute later was to put the Brickies in the driving seat.

Visiting striker / assistant manager Richard Brady got a shot in at Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo on the hour mark after a ball from captain Joe Dowley.

At the other end, last weekend's hat-trick hero Smith volleyed just wide when Josh Burchell played a 63 rd minute ball in from the left, with Dryden just unable to convert at the far post.

Smith shot tamely into the side netting ten minutes later after a good touch by substitute Billy Somerville put him away down the left hand side of the penalty area in a move started by captain Micheal Everitt.

Sittingbourne's Akhazzan showed good skill down the left hand side in the 79 th minute and his shot flashed wide of the far post.

A Cottrell shot was comfortably plucked out of the air by Delo in the 82 nd minute after a break from substitute Elie Kayembe down the left hand side.

Invicta brought on an additional striker in Jon Driscoll and Dean Grant, a new signing from Dover Athletic.

Grant was involved immediately as he shot just wide from the left hand side of the penalty area with his first touch after a run by fellow substitute Somerville into the penalty area.

But there was to be no way back for Invicta as Sittingbourne held on, with Reeves getting in another vital headed clearance in the 90 th minute when Grant played the ball in from the right in a move also involving Josh Burchell and Everitt.

Sittingbourne's Akhazzan was the game's only booking.

Invicta – then in the Kent League – had beaten Sittingbourne – then in the Southren League Premier Division – in their first ever F. A. Cup campaign almost 15 years ago the day.

This latest tie will not live so long in the memory.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent (Driscoll 79 mins), Burchell, Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith, Yianni (Somerville 57 mins), Dryden Cory, Jackson (Grant 85 mins). Unused subs : Dickson, Egan.

SITTINGBOURNE : Ibrahim, Omogbehin, Dowley, Bourne, Reeves, Cottrell, Grant, Richmond, Spice (Kayembe 52 mins), Brady (McHugh 77 mins), Akhazzan. Unused subs : Ansah, Dixon-Baker, Manners.

Attendance : 360.