Folkestone Invicta lost their unbeaten Ryman League Division One South record and top place in the table as new leaders Godalming Town took all three points at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon thanks to an 80 th minute free kick from Andy Ottley.

OTTLEY struck from 25 yards to leave goalkeeper Jack Delo wrong-footed after Invicta centre half Frankie Chappell was adjudged to have fouled Kenny Ojukwo.

Invicta have only conceded three goals in ten matches in all competitions so far this season but have now suffered two costly 1-0 home defeats in succession after their F. A. Cup exit against Sittingbourne a fortnight earlier.

Delo has been in fine form for Invicta this season and can be proud of the club's goal against column but will have been disappointed to let Ottley's set piece beat him towards the middle of the goal as the goalkeeper expected the shot to be curled nearer the post.

Ottley had also scored a late winner for Godalming in last season's corresponding fixture.

Only two of Invicta's ten games this season have produced more than one goal and a third successive match without a goal for the Folkestone side meant that Ottley's strike proved decisive.

Both goalkeepers had earlier come to their respective sides' rescue during the second half.

Delo made a brilliant 72 nd minute save to keep out a Phil Williams shot when the Godalming substitute created space for himself inside the penalty area and picked his spot when he seemed set to score.

And visiting goalkeeper Rodney Chiweshe came out to make a vital save to deny Darren Smith two minutes later when debutant Simon Austin played the ball through.

New signing Austin had come straight into the side in place of the injured David Cory, with Jimmy Jackson also still missing with a foot injury and James Dryden starting on the substitutes' bench after going off with a knee injury in the previous game at Chipstead.

Referee Ben Wright had earlier insisted that the level of the ground on the goal line at the Cheriton End of the stadium be lowered before he would allow the match to start.

And the referee caused controversy during the first half as Godalming's James Hamshire left the field of play early, but without the red card which home fans had been baying for.

Hamshire was booked in the 29 th minute for striking Dean Grant in the back and then looked set for another yellow card when he pulled Grant back just three minutes later.

But Mr Wright took no further action and it was left to the Godalming bench to immediately substitute the clearly rattled Hamshire and take him out of the firing line.

Grant enjoyed a good first half for Invicta as he whipped a 17 th minute cross in from the right just in front of Austin in the middle, with a defender touching the ball out for a corner. Chappell then headed Smith's subsequent ball in wide at the far post.

The incidents involving Hamshire then became the major talking point of the first half.

Ojukwo turned inside the right hand side of the Invicta penalty area in the 34 th minute, but Chappell was there to clear from close to the line.

A 38 th minute booking for Invicta captain Micheal Everitt after a challenge of Ojukwo then only added to the home side's frustrations that Hamshire had not earlier received a second yellow.

Everitt then did well to win the ball and set up a chance for Austin but the striker could only hit a low shot at goalkeeper Chiweshe.

Grant was close during first half stoppage time with a glancing header wide when Liam Dickson played the ball in from the left.

Michael Yianni then headed at goalkeeper Chiweshe within 30 seconds of the re-start after another ball in from the left.

But Godalming also threatened at the start of the second half as Smith got back to clear when Graeme Purdy broke down the right hand side and played the ball across the Invicta goal mouth.

Ojukwo then headed over after another ball in from the right.

Invicta were close in the 58 th minute when Chiweshe tipped over a Dickson header after an Everitt ball in.

At the other end, Delo touched over Shaun Elliott's shot from outside the penalty area on the hour mark.

Liam Friend got in a vital headed touch out for a corner when Godalming captain Richard Taylor played a 64 th minute ball in from the left and centre half Chris Wales headed over Ottley's corner from the left a minute later.

Invicta responded to falling behind by bringing on strikers Dryden and Jon Driscoll.

Defender Chappell got forward in the 88 th minute but could not make proper contact to a Smith free kick and volleyed away from goal in a crowded penalty area.

Smith then shot at Chiweshe from distance on his 50 th starting appearance for Invicta after combining with Josh Burchell during stoppage time.

For Godalming, Williams combined with fellow substitute Richard Shittu but Friend blocked the subsequent shot.

And right at the end, Invicta had a chance to equalise as Dryden headed at Chiweshe after a Burchell ball in from the left.

There had been late bookings for Invicta right back Josh Vincent and for Godalming's one-time Invicta striker Shittu.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent, Dickson (Driscoll 81 mins), Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith, Grant, Austin, Yianni (Dryden 81 mins), Burchell. Unused sub : Somerville, Swallow, Egan.

GODALMING TOWN : Chiweshe, Pestle, Elliott (Williams 62 mins), Hamshire (Matthews 31 mins), Wales, Taylor, Paka, Kiri, Purdy (Shittu 76 mins), Ottley, Ojukwo. Unused subs : Stanislaus, Martini.

Attendance : 248.