Wealdstone 3-1 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta slipped back into the Ryman Premier League relegation zone after suffering a disappointing 3-1 defeat away to Wealdstone at Northwood Park on Saturday afternoon.

In a very open first half, the visitors missed early chances through Mark Saunders, Leigh Bremner and Richard Shittu before falling behind and ended up well beaten and down to ten men as Roland Edge limped off after Neil Cugley's side had already used all three of their substitutes.

Invicta had kept the same starting outfield players from last week's much-needed 4-1 win over Horsham, with 18-year-old goalkeeper Luke Stonebridge making his full league debut after playing most of the previous weekend's match as an early substitute.

There were chances at both ends from the start as Invicta defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu blocked Jon Nichols' third minute shot, while Saunders fired over six minutes later when he got into the penalty area after Tom Bryant played the ball out to Edge on the left and the Invicta captain squared a low ball across goal.

Bremner shot over on the turn in the tenth minute when a long throw from Kevin Watson on the right found James Corbett in the box.

And Bremner shot over with a good chance two minutes later when striking partner Shittu squared the ball to him after good play from Charlie Glyde and Saunders in midfield.

Okikiolu cleared Lee Chappell's header in the 14th minute when Dean sent in a deep cross from the right after Stephen Hughes had gone past Bryant and played the ball out wide.

And Ryan Ashe soon whipped in a dangerous cross from the right across the Invicta goalmouth and past the far post.

But Invicta had another clear chance after 15 minutes when it was Shittu's turn to mis-cue over the crossbar following a good turn and ball from Bremner when Corbett and Glyde did well in midfield.

There was soon a scare at the other end when Stonebridge's clearance cannoned off Ashe but out for a goal kick when Okikiolu played the ball back to the young goalkeeper.

Frankie Chappell blocked a Dean shot after 18 minutes when Hughes touched the ball back and Stonebridge got down to save Dean's acrobatic strike a minute later following a ball over the Invicta defence.

The chances continued to come as Bremner cut in from the right hand side and fired wide across goal for Invicta and a free kick just eluded Wealdstone defender James Gray in the visitors' penalty area following a foul by Chappell on Dean.

Invicta then somehow survived after 28 minutes when an almighty scramble in the goalmouth culminated in Dean thumping the ball against the far post.

Corbett shot wide from just outside the penalty area on the half hour mark following another good turn from Bremner, but the former Gillingham and Blackburn star soon limped off injured.

And by then Invicta were behind as NICHOLS opened the scoring in the 33 rd minute when he hit a low shot past Stonebridge after Dean had played the ball into his path.

Stonebridge then got up to make a good 38 th minute save to keep out Ashe's attempted lob when a great ball from Dean to the in-coming midfielder threatened to double the home side's lead.

Invicta's problems continued just after the interval as Shittu limped off with a hamstring injury.

And Wealdstone captain Chris O'LEARY made it 2-0 in the 58 th minute when he headed in Chappell's long throw from the left hand side.

Invicta were briefly back in it thanks to a strong 67 th minute header from CHAPPELL after an Edge free kick on the left following a foul on Saunders.

But Wealdstone restored their two-goal advantage three minutes later when DEAN found the net at the second attempt after Stonebridge had saved his initial close range rebound when a shot from substitute Ben Alexander came back off the post.

Invicta's injury woes mounted as Bremner needed treatment and then Edge limped off.

There were bookings for Wealdstone's Hughes and Invicta's Watson, the latter for a 90 th minute foul on Dean.

WEALDSTONE : Carr, Campana, Martin, Gray, Gross (Montgomery 73 mins), Ashe, Nichols (De Lisser 73 mins), O'Leary, Hughes (Alexander 65 mins), Dean, Chappell. Unused subs : Campbell, Karamoko.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Stonebridge, Watson, Edge, Chappell, Bryant, Okikiolu (J. Everitt 71 mins), Glyde, Shittu (Abel 49 mins), Bremner, Saunders, Corbett (M. Everitt 34 mins). Unused subs : Friend, Conyers.