Folkestone Invicta had an afternoon to forget as they went down 2-0 away to Sittingbourne on Saturday afternoon as the visitors conceded a first half penalty and then had striker Simon Austin sent off just after half time for a challenge on Deren Ibrahim that resulted in the home goalkeeper being stretchered off with a small fracture in his shin bone.

The Brickies had opened the scoring in the 24 th minute when top goalscorer Hicham AKHAZZAN converted his penalty after referee Paul Harris from Maidstone had pointed to the spot following a challenge by Micheal Everitt on Akhazzan after a Karl Dent ball.

Invicta captain Everitt was booked in the incident as Invicta protested.

And things got worse for the visitors when Austin was given a straight red for a two-footed challenge on young Ibrahim after exchanging passes with striking partner James Everitt.

Striker Tom BRADBRROK made the points safe for Sittingbourne when his 81 st minute shot crept past Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo.

It was only Invicta's third defeat in the Ryman League Division One South so far this season and their first by a two-goal margin and also only the second occasion that the Folkestone side has conceded two goals in a league match in 2009/10.

Invicta retained their customary starting eleven after their latest snow-enforced break and the visitors made the better start.

James Everitt had the game's first real chance in the tenth minute when he chested the ball down and shot over after centre half Frankie Chappell headed a Jimmy Jackson free kick back.

A 14 th minute 35-yard Jackson shot then flashed past the post after a combination between the Everitt brothers.

Invicta central defender Liam Dickson charged down a Bradbrook shot six minutes later, but Sittingbourne soon opened the scoring thanks to the penalty decision.

For Invicta, Chappell headed over when Jackson sent over the visitors' only corner of the game from the right hand side on the half hour mark.

Chappell was then involved at the other end two minutes later when he blocked an Elie Kayembe shot following Joe Horlock's cross from the right in a move also involving Jimmy Bottle and Akhazzan.

Delo saved in the 38 th minute when Bradbrook drilled the ball in from the right hand side after striking partner Kayembe sent him away when Akhazzan won the ball in midfield to break up an Invicta attack.

Dickson then cleared from close to the goal line a minute later when Kayembe went past Delo down the left hand side of the penalty area after beating the Invicta goalkeeper to captain Joe Dowley's ball forward.

James Everitt did well to put Darren smith through in the 42 nd minute but goalkeeper Ibrahim came out to save and bravely claimed the rebound.

But Ibrahim's bad injury the other side of the half time interval was to be one of the game's major talking points.

Invicta sacrificed defender Dickson for striker Peter Williams as they were reduced to ten men.

Without a number two goalkeeper, Sittingbourne brought on Billy Manners to replaced Ibrahim between the posts, a position he has occupied in the past.

Sittingbourne have the second best defensive record in the Ryman League Division One South this season behind Invicta and the visitors were unable to test Manners sufficiently.

Chappell blocked from Akhazzan around the hour mark when Bradbrook pulled the ball back from the left hand side of the penalty area.

And it was Bradbrook who conjured up a goal out of nothing from a Kayembe pass to end any hopes Invicta had of retrieving a point from the game.

Delo touched the ball over for a corner in the 87thminute when home right back Horlock burst into the penalty area and let fly after a short corner from Colin Richmond on the right hand side.

Chappell headed over a 90 th minute Smith free kick following a foul by Horlock on James Everitt and Everitt himself hit a stoppage time free kick just past the post after being fouled again.

There was a late substitute appearance from Invicta's new signing Nhu Nguyen, who comes from Vietnam via Germany and has been training with Dover Athletic.

Sittingbourne's Dent, Nick Reeves and Richmond were all booked during the second half.

Not a good birthday-week football-wise for Invicta's Austin – who had been 29 on Tuesday – and left back Josh Burchell who celebrated his 20 th birthday on the day of the game.

SITTINGBOURNE : Ibrahim (Manners 55 mins), Horlock, Dowley, Bourne, Reeves, Dent, Akhazzan, Richmond, Bradbrook, Kayembe (Bleach 82 mins), Bottle. Unused subs : Golding, Abbot, Brady.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt (Spiller 78 mins), Smith, Dickson (Williams 51 mins), J. Everitt, Austin, Jackson (Nhu Nguyen 90 mins). Unused sub : Dryden.

Attendance : 210.