Folkestone Invicta again came away empty-handed as they were beaten by a late goal for the second successive home match.

Godalming had snatched all three points at the Buzzlines Stadium back on January 31st and two goals from striker Tom Hutchings gave Leatherhead victory on Saturday afternoon in Invicta’s only home match during February.

The Tanners thus become the first club to complete a Ryman League Division One South double over the Folkestone side during what has turned into a difficult season both on and off the field.

HUTCHINGS struck the winner from close range in the 89th minute when a long throw in from substitute Ben Shannon on the left was not cleared inside the Invicta penalty area.

Striker HUTCHINGS had earlier opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a well-struck shot in off the post after substitute Simon Mitchell laid the ball into his path following a ball over the home defence.

But Invicta equalised in the 40th minute with Micheal EVERITT’s first league goal of the season when the midfielder found the net following a ball in from the right hand side after Josh Vincent had gone close with a header.

The goal came after James Dryden had a penalty well saved by visiting goalkeeper Chris Lewington after the Invicta captain had himself been fouled by Devon Williams on the left hand side of the penalty area.

Williams was injured in committing the foul and became the second Leatherhead player to limp off before half time.

Dryden’s penalty miss signalled the end of his run of scoring in the previous five successive league matches.

Invicta had gone into the game with Jimmy Jackson available again after a back injury in place of the injured Kieran Byrne, with Vincent at right back and James Everitt in attack.

The game’s first chance on a sunny afternoon fell to Micheal Everitt in the fifth minute when his shot was charged down and Vincent hit the follow up over the crossbar.

At the other end, Invicta defender Liam Friend (left) intercepted when Stewart Holmes played a 12th minute ball through to Jason Henry inside the penalty area.

Leatherhead goalkeeper Lewington then came out to smother two minutes later when a good Darren Smith ball put Dryden through.

Hutchings’ opening goal prompted a response from the home side as left back Josh Burchell couldn’t quite force the ball in when James Everitt played the ball in from the right. And a spell of pressure led to the penalty and equaliser.

A 54th minute free kick from the right hand edge of the Invicta penalty area led to a flare up between Dryden and John Wilfort before Hutchings’ low set piece flew just wide of the far post.

Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo had to touch over the crossbar in the 59th minute when Holmes tried his luck from 30 yards, while at the other end a Micheal Everitt header at Lewington lacked power a minute later when Burchell played the ball in from the left.

James Everitt headed a deep Vincent cross from the right wide at the far post in the 71st minute, with Dryden also poised to pounce.

Friend blocked from Leatherhead substitute Mitchell in the 79th minute when a break from Tony Cuff down the right hand side left Invicta stretched at the back.

Fellow Invicta centre half Liam Dickson then got back to make a good 83rd minute saving tackle when a ball from Henry sent Mitchell away.

Invicta were close in the 87th minute when centre half Frankie Chappell got forward to meet a Smith free kick on the right at the far post, but the ball was touched round the post for a corner. When the set piece came back out, a Micheal Everitt shot was then blocked.

But it was Hutchings who won the points for Leatherhead, who had responded to a 6-0 midweek defeat which had taken Worthing to the top of the table.

There were bookings for Invicta defenders Dickson and Chappell and for Leatherhead’s Hutchings and Henry.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, J. Everitt, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Dickson, M. Everitt, Vincent (Neilson 72 mins), Dryden, Smith, Jackson. Unused subs: Garrity, Driscoll, Egan.

LEATHERHEAD: Lewington, Williams (Shannon 40 mins), Palmer, Hendry, Cartledge, Holmes, Cuff, Wilfort, Hutchings (Jones 90 mins), Moorhouse (Mitchell 25 mins), Henry. Unused sub: Layzer.

Attendance: 217.