Folkestone Invicta retained top spot in the Ryman League Division One South as goals from Frankie Chappell, James Everitt and Simon Austin gave Neil Cugley's side a 3-1 victory over Sittingbourne at the Buzzlines Stadium on Tuesday night.

Invicta raced into an early 2-0 lead, but the Brickies pulled one back immediately and remained in the game until Austin made the points safe deep into the second half.

James Everitt came back into the Invicta starting line up in place of Peter Williams in the only change to the starting line up from Saturday's win at Whyteleafe.

And the home side got off to a flyer as the ball was cleared from close to the line when Jimmy Jackson sent over the game's first corner from the right and captain Micheal Everitt's shot was blocked.

Centre half CHAPPELL opened the scoring as early as the third minute when he flicked the ball in after a long throw in from the left hand side had been headed on.

Austin then let fly from the edge of the penalty area two minutes later, but visiting goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim saved.

It was 2-0 in the 12 th minute when another Jackson corner from the right was headed in by the younger EVERITT brother.

12 different players have now scored Invicta's 17 goals from 15 matches so far this season as Everitt opened his account for 2009-10.

But Sittingbourne made an instant reply and Jimmy BOTTLE converted at the far post a minute later when Hicham Akhazzan found Femi Omogbehin down the right and the full back's cross flew in front of striker Tom Bradbrook in the middle.

It was not proving to be the low scoring encounter which has characterised most of Invita's matches so far this season.

Sittingbourne were now back in the game and Bottle shot over when Nick Reeves put a ball across the Invicta penalty area from the right flank.

Akhazzan set himself up and shot wide in the 21 st minute and the visitors won their first corner of the night eight minutes later when Bradbrook broke down the right hand side of the box and goalkeeper Jack Delo saved with his foot.

Another hanging Jackson corner from the right in the 35 th minute saw centre half Liam Dickson head over.

There were chances at both ends just before half time as Austin shot on the turn at Ibrahim after a ball in from Jackson and Bottle fired over from the left hand side of the penalty area when Bradbrook squared the ball into his path.

Bradbrook curled a 51 st minute shot wide of the far post from the left hand side of the penalty area when Bottle ran at the home defence.

Sittingbourne were chasing an equaliser as Invciat centre half Liam Friend denied Bradbrook at the expense of a 62 nd minute corner when the striker latched onto an Akhazzan pass.

At the other end, a 71 st minute Jackson cross was nodded on by Micheal Everitt and right back Josh Vincent had a shot charged down.

Invicta struck again when Vincent picked AUSTIN out and the striker scored for a second successive game when his shot from outside the penalty area was palmed into the net by goalkeeper Ibrahim.

Sittingbourne's frustration led to a flurry of late bookings for goalscorer Bottle (pulling Vincent back) and central defenders Matt Bourne (bring Friend down as he surged forward) and Reeves (going through the back of Austin).

A 25-yard Micheal Everitt shot was deflected over the crossbar for a corner during stoppage time.

Invicta have now found the net three times in their last two home matches as they continue to enjoy a successful start to the season which few could have envisaged after a troubled summer off the field which threatened the club's very existence.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Delo, Vincent, Burchell (Swallow 90 mins), Friend, Chappell, M. Everitt, Smith, Dickson, J. Everitt (Williams 90 mins), Austin (Thompson 90 mins), Jackson. Unused sub : Stonebridge.

SITTINGBOURNE : Ibrahim, Omogbehin, Dowley, Bourne, Reeves, Grant (Kayembe 59 mins), Akhazzan, Manners, Bradbrook (Ansah 87 mins), Richmond, Bottle. Unused subs : Brady, Horlock, McHugh.

Attendance : 304.