An 85 th minute penalty from James Everitt gave Folkestone Invicta all three points from their visit to Maidstone Road on Tuesday night.

EVERITT beat goalkeeper Dean Ruddy from the spot after Josh Vincent had been brought down when he ran into the penalty area to give the Ryman League Division One South leaders yet another late winner this season.

Centre half Liam FRIEND had opened the scoring with a rare goal when he headed in a 22 nd minute Jimmy Jackson free kick from the right hand side after a foul on James Everitt.

But Chatham's top goalscorer Brendon CASS equalised in the 37 th minute when he found the net after Rob Denness had run into the penalty area and played the ball to Matt Solly.

Everitt's late penalty makes him Invicta's leading goalscorer so far this season with seven goals.

But Friend's first goal since a home game against Leyton on January 5, 2008 makes him the 14 th different Invicta player to score so far this season. All 10 of the regular starting eleven – and regular substitute Peter Williams - have now scored.

This was Invicta's fifth successive away match – bringing three wins and two defeats – and their 16 th consecutive league game with the same starting eleven.

The pitch had passed an afternoon inspection, with fog being the only hazard as the game commenced.

Invicta started well as Jackson tried his luck from 30 yards in the fourth minute and Friend shot at Ruddy after cutting in from the left hand side two minutes later.

But visiting goalkeeper Jack Delo had to come out to make a vital 14 th minute save when an uncharacteristic error from Friend let in striker Jake Hobbs.

James Everitt then headed over in the 20 th minute when Jackson sent a free kick over from the right after a foul on Everitt himself.

And Friend soon opened the scoring and his account for the season when he got forward again to meet another Jackson set piece.

The visitors soon had another chance when a ball over the home defence sent striker Simon Austin away but goalkeeper Ruddy saved at the expense of the game's first corner.

Ruddy then got down to save in the 27 th minute when Darren Smith shot first time after being put through by midfield colleague Jackson.

But Chatham went in level at half time thanks to Cass' equaliser.

Home striker Hobbs shot at Delo in the 57 th minute, while Invicta centre half Liam Dickson headed at Ruddy at the other end two minutes later following a Jackson corner on the right.

Delo came out to save from Denness on the hour mark when Cass nodded the ball down as the home side won its first corner of the game.

James Everitt then headed a 69 th minute Smith cross from the right wide and centre half Frankie Chappell headed an 82 nd minute Jackson corner from the right wide as the game seemed to be heading towards a draw.

But Invicta won the day after a foul on Vincent who had been pushed up into midfield when substitute Williams came on in a wide midfield role after replacing former Chatham player Smith.

There were bookings for Chatham's Denness and Chris Henry can and for Invicta's James Everitt.

This was the re-arranged game after the abandonment in between Christmas and the New Year due to Mark Green's broken leg.

Green was among the spectators on the night as he hopes to return to fitness and action again next season.

CHATHAM TOWN : Ruddy, Powell, Proberts, Solly, Watts, Henry, Denness (Briggs 66 mins), Potter, Cass, Hobbs (Pullen 81 mins), Lyons (Ascheri 87 mins). Unused subs : Scott, Stroud.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith (Williams 72 mins), Dickson, J. Everitt, Austin (Spiller 90 mins), Jackson. Unused sub : Nhu Nguyen, Dix.

Attendance : 133.