A Jimmy Jackson special gave Folkestone Invicta a hard-earned point away to new league leaders Merstham in an entertaining game in Surrey on Tuesday night.

Midfield maestro JACKSON received the ball from Frankie Chappell in the 24 th minute and unleashed a deadly strike from 25 yards which flew into the roof of the net.

It was the first goal Invicta had scored in over 380 minutes of football since Darren Smith had completed his hat-trick with a close range header against Horsham YMCA at the start of September.

Jackson's strike brought Invicta level in front of a season's best 255 crowd at Moatside. It was only the second time in 12 Invicta matches so far this season in which both sides had scored.

The visitors had gone behind in disappointing fashion in the 13 th minute when Michael GORDON found the net direct from a sweetly struck free kick after goalkeeper Luke Stonebridge had been penalised for handling outside his penalty area when John Hamsher played the ball forward.

20-year-old Stonebridge had come back into the Invicta side in place of Jack Delo (injured foot at work) after recently returning from a scholarship in the United States. His last competitive match for Invicta had been in their relegation decider against Maidstone United during April 2008.

This was an intriguing fixture between the clubs starting the night in second and fourth place in the table, a side unbeaten at home in all competitions against a side unbeaten away. Merstham are the division's second highest goalscorers, while Invicta have by far the best defensive record.

Merstham had been beaten 1-0 away to third-place Croydon Athletic on Saturday, when Invicta had the day off.

This draw was enough to take Merstham top of the table as previous leaders Godalming were beaten 3-2 away to Worthing.

Invicta will themselves climb to the top of the table if they win at home to Walton Casuals this coming Saturday.

This was another match in which Invicta's defence took the plaudits and they had a lot of defending to do during the second half as Merstham's wide players Gordon and Jermain McGlashen caused problems with their pace and trickery and 6ft 10 ins centre forward Leon Simpson was an obvious target man.

Liam Dickson came back into the side to partner Chappell and Liam Friend as part of a three-man central defensive partnership for the first time this season and slotted comfortably back in.

Chappell was given the task of dealing with Simpson, while at the other end of the pitch Simon Austin returned to partner James Dryden in attack.

Centre half Chappell got forward in the eighth minute to head wide a good ball in from Smith.

But Gordon's opener was to set Invicta back.

The home side threatened to increase their lead in the 22 nd minute as Chappell blocked from close range to deny Simpson when Daniel Bennett pulled the ball back from the right hand side of the penalty area.

At the other end, Austin headed Chappell's 23 rd minute shot from distance at goalkeeper Ian Chatfield after a Jackson ball.

And Jackson's first goal of the season was to end Invicta's drought a minute later.

There were chances at both ends in the 29 th minute as Stonebridge saved from Gordon close to the post on the left hand side of the Invicta penalty area, while Josh Vincent shot across goal at Chatfield from the right hand side of the Merstham box.

Chappell made a saving tackle on the half hour mark when the ball was touched on to Bennett.

And Stonebridge got down to make a great 37 th minute save from Bennett at close range when McGlashen played the ball over from the right after Gordon had run at the Invicta defence.

Friend advanced through the middle in the 41 st minute and shot at Chatfield, with the unmarked Dryden screaming for a pass to his right, after a break involving captain Micheal Everitt and goalscorer Jackson.

Austin then missed a chance to put Invicta ahead just before half time when he did not make full contact to a Friend ball into the middle after combining with the central defender.

The second half began with chances flowing at both ends.

Invicta were close in the 47 th minute when home goalkeeper Chatfield came out to make a good save from Smith at the expense of a corner.

McGlashen then shot over for Merstham after a break involving Simpson and Gordon and Bennett also shot high and wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Dryden shot wide in the 51 st minute from a free kick into the home penalty area, while Friend cleared a McGlashen ball in from the left in a move started by Bennett.

Dryden then headed a 54 th minute ball in from Smith wide after a move involving Friend, Jackson and Austin.

Bennett headed wide from close range for Merstham in the 59 th minute when centre half Adam Thompson did well with a good run and cross down the right hand side.

McGlashen was then close at the far post when Gordon produced more trickery down the right hand side after a 69 th minute ball out of defence.

Stonebridge got up to pluck a 74 th minute Bennett header out of the air after a ball in from Hamsher into the middle of the penalty area.

Invicta gave new striker Craig Thompson a late run out.

But it was Merstham who threatened again when Gordon broke down again and hit a dangerous low ball right across the Invicta goalmouth.

Invicta defender Friend was the game's only booking for dissent.

MERSTHAM : Chatfield, Hancock, Hewitt, Thompson, Vernon, Hamsher, Gordon, Goggin, Simpson, Bennett (Maan 78 mins), McGlashen. Unused subs : Smith, Frontin, R. Hughes, T. Hughes.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Stonebridge, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith (Grant 90 mins), Dickson, Dryden (Thompson 86 mins), Austin, Jackson. Unused subs : Driscoll, Williams, J. Everitt.

Attendance : 255.