A free kick from Jimmy Jackson midway through the second half gave Folkestone Invicta all three points against fellow Kent club Whitstable Town at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It was a welcome victory for Neil Cugley’s side as they won their first home match since beating Corinthian-Casuals back on October 25th in what was their last match before having to release players due to the club’s well-documented cash crisis.

Jackson’s strike was also Invicta’s first goal since four blanks following a League Cup tie against Tilbury on December 2nd.

The decisive goal followed when Whitstable’s Sam Denly became the game’s only booking for bringing down striker Kieran Byrne on the edge of the penalty area as he latched onto an inviting ball forward from Micheal Everitt.

Class act JACKSON then stepped up to strike the set piece directly into the corner of the net for his ninth goal of the season.

The goal was no less than Invicta deserved, although they again found goals hard to come by after two goalless draws in their previous three home matches.

It was both clubs’ first game for a fortnight after the recent cold weather and the Folkestone side kept the same starting line up which had begun their final game of 2008 and first of 2009.

But it was the visitors who had the game’s first chance and their clearest opening of the entire match when Dan Wisker was given on-side from a Rob Thomas ball but shot wide of the post.

At the other end, transfer listed Invicta captain James Dryden saw his volley dip just over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area in the 12th minute.

Dryden then appeared to have his legs taken away from him on the quarter of an hour mark when the ball cannoned off a couple of defenders towards him. But all Invicta got was the game’s first corner, from which centre half Frankie Chappell headed wide across goal, with James Everitt just unable to get a touch at the far post.

Jackson curled an 18th minute shot just over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area when Micheal Everitt took the ball into the box after Dryden had played it across from the right to advancing left back Josh Burchell.

As the stalemate continued, Byrne had a 35th minute shot blocked by Tom Parker after defender Liam Friend played the ball forward to Micheal Everitt.

Just as they had in the opening 45 minutes, Whitstable started the second half with a chance as Danny Tipple shot wide from the left hand side.

But it was then all Invicta as Danny Smith hit a 35-yard free kick over the crossbar in the 53rd minute and Byrne shot over after receiving the ball from James Everitt two minutes later.

Whitstable goalkeeper Kevin Fewell then made a one-handed save to touch over a 58th minute Dryden header following a deep Jackson free kick on the left. The subsequent corner was met by a James Everitt header which was blocked close to the Oystermen’s line which led to a melee in the visitors’ goalmouth.

And Jackson’s free kick was to bring a sigh of relief from the home contingent as their goal drought came to an end.

Byrne then slid the ball just wide of the post when James Everitt played the ball in to him.

Fewell then had to touch another Dryden header over the crossbar from a deep Jackson free kick on the left after 75 minutes.

Invicta came desperately close to increasing their lead in the 81st minute when Thomas cleared off the line to deny Darren Smith, who had gone round goalkeeper Fewell after Dryden had squared the ball to him when Byrne got a touch to goalkeeper Jack Delo’s clearance.

And a Whitstable defender made a vital interception two minutes later when the ball was heading towards Dryden following a move involving Burchell and Jackson.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, J. Everitt (Vincent 89 mins), Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Dickson, M. Everitt, Byrne (Neilson 83 mins), Dryden, Smith, Jackson. Unused subs: Swallow, Egan.

WHITSTABLE TOWN: Fewell, Thomas (Cory 86 mins), Sayer, Campbell (Munday 45 mins), Perona, Denly, Parker, Quinn, Neal, Wisker (Pulman 75 mins), Tipple. Unused subs: Cornhill, MacVicker.

Attendance: 255.