A 14th minute goal from James Everitt was enough to give Folkestone Invicta all three points against Eastbourne Town at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

EVERITT was there to follow up and put the ball into the net after visiting goalkeeper Russell Tanner had made an initial save following a disputed corner on the left hand side.

The younger Everitt brother had come back into the side after a recent hamstring injury in place of new boy Jacob Arnold-Smith, who did not make his home debut as he was involved in a cup final for Gillingham.

Saturday’s sunny weather was in marked contrast to November when the two clubs had drawn 2-2 amid heavy rain.

Invicta dominated the first half on Saturday but were unable to add to their tally and had to survive one or two anxious moments during the second half.

The home side created chances from the start as Micheal Everitt shot wide in the second minute when the ball fell into his path on the left hand side of the penalty area when brother James’ attempted pass to Josh Vincent was partially cleared by a defender.

Following Invicta’s goal, Vincent volleyed over spectacularly in the 22nd minute when Micheal Everitt crossed from the right.

Captain James Dryden then hit a low shot at goalkeeper Russell Tanner in the 30th minute from the right hand side of the penalty area after a good ball from Jimmy Jackson.

At the other end, a 31st minute close range shot from Jamie Salvidge was blocked by defender Liam Dickson after a low ball into the Invicta penalty area.

Eastbourne defender Paul Richardson then cleared a Josh Burchell cross from the left two minutes later when Darren Smith (left) played the ball out wide.

Invicta had further chances in the run up to half time as Smith ran and shot over, Richardson blocked from Burchell after a Jackson ball and Jackson himself shot high and wide when James Everitt played the ball across from the right hand side.

Luke Denton then headed over for the visitors during first half stoppage time when the ball ricocheted across the Invicta penalty area to him.

Invicta continued to create chances at the start of the second half as a Jackson free kick flashed across the visitors’ goal and Jackson shot over from the edge of the penalty area in the 52nd minute.

But Eastbourne began to create chances of their own as a dangerous ball across the Invicta goal from Salvidge on the left was cleared by Burchell.

The visitors then won their first corner of the game a minute later when Liam Friend played Danny Simmonds’ ball out when Salvidge prepared to latch onto it.

It was now end-to-end as Dryden hit a low shot at Tanner from a central position on the edge of the penalty area after combining with Smith.

Peter Cooper shot over from the edge of the penalty area in the 60th minute after a move involving Salvidge and Ethan Strevett down the right hand side.

Invicta were given another reminder that they had only a slender one-goal lead when Denton’s 69th minute shot from the edge of the penalty area was blocked.

Adam Davidson then missed a good chance to equalise in the 71st minute when he shot wide from close range after Cooper pulled the ball back to him.

Invicta had to make a tactical switch when Billy Swallow replaced goalscorer Everitt as Burchell moved across to right back.

Cooper shot wide in the 76th minute after creating a chance for himself following substitute Simon Catt’s throw in on the left.

Invicta were close again in the 81st minute as centre half Frankie Chappell headed against the crossbar from Micheal Everitt’s corner on the right.

And Dryden could not quite force the ball in from close range a minute later from a deep Smith cross on the left.

Eastbourne’s Chris Dicker was the game’s only booking for bringing down Jackson in the 87th minute.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent (Neilson 60 mins), Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Dickson, Smith, M. Everitt, Dryden, J. Everitt (Swallow 73 mins), Jackson. Unused sub: Dix.

EASTBOURNE TOWN: Tanner, Denton, Richardson, Davidson (Catt 72 mins), Hunt, Featherstone, Simmonds, Salvidge, Cooper, Dicker, Strevett. Unused subs: Holles, Dallaway, Head.

Attendance: 220.