Maidstone United 2-0 Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone Invicta slumped to a fourth consecutive 2-0 defeat as they went down to two second half goals on a sunny Easter Monday afternoon as Maidstone got the three points that they needed to give themselves hope of avoiding the drop on the final day of the Ryman Premier League season.

Colin Richmond (penalty) and Alex Flisher scored the goals to give Maidstone victory in their last 'home' match at Ashford's Homelands in front of a season's best 488 crowd before they return to Sittingbourne next season.

Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo had earlier saved an Ellis Green penalty just after half time as Maidstone dominated the second half.

Already Invicta will complete their season at home to a Lowestoft side who will need victory to confirm their place in the play offs.

Since beating Maidstone 4-0 at home at the start of March, Invicta have failed to win any of their last 12 matches and will not be sorry to see the season end.

RICHMOND broke the deadlock with Maidstone's second penalty of the game in the 67th minute when defender Liam Dickson brought down Green.

And FLISHER made it 2-0 in the 75th minute when he put the ball into the net at the far post after Green had broken down the right hand side and drilled the ball across goal.

Invicta made one change to their starting eleven as teenager Niall Jackson came in for his full debut in place of Josh Burchell in a 4-4-2 formation with Dickson at left back.

Clear chances were few and far between during the first half with Green blasting wide from the right hand side in the 22nd minute and Invicta's Darren Smith shooting at home goalkeeper Andy Walker after an exchange of passes between captain Micheal Eveirtt and James Dryden.

The club's record goalscorer Dryden was making his 350th starting appearance for Invicta.

A 26th minute Green shot was blocked by Invicta defender Liam Friend for the game's first corner after Dan Stubbs played the ball from left to right.

There was a drinks break on the half hour mark, as there had been during the second half on Saturday, as the Bank Holiday heat played its part.

Maidstone full back Tom Mills played a dangerous 39th minute ball across goal from the left just in front of striker Jay May in the middle and a Green cross from the right was headed wide by the in-coming Flisher three minutes later.

The referee had blown for full time early during Invicta's home game against Sutton on Easter Saturday, but here referee Ian Crouch was generous with his time added on.

And the clearest opening of the first half came during stoppage time when a big Walker clearance put Richmond through down the middle and he headed past Delo but wide of the post.

There was still time for Delo to keep out a well-struck Stubbs shot just before half time when May played the ball out to the left.

Invicta had to make a change at half time when Burchell replaced player-coach Roland Edge.

But it was Maidstone who had the chance to break the deadlock when Frankie Chappell was penalised for handball when Mills broke forward and played the ball in from the left. Delo, though, got across to save Green's 49th minute penalty.

Invicta's right back Josh Vincent was then booked for comments made to the referee.

Stubbs then did not connect fully in the 53rd minute after a move involving Nathan Paul, Richmond and Green and Invicta's Friend was booked in the 55th minute for bringing down Flisher on the left hand side after Green had broke.

Maidstone needed a goal and Richmond then shot just wide.

Flisher headed just wide as Maidstone kept up the pressure in the 57th minute when Green crossed from the right after a Paul ball.

Maidstone's Stubbs was then booked for kicking the ball away after being given offside in the 63rd minute.

Green drilled a low shot at Delo when Stubbs played the ball forward a minute later as it continued to be one-way traffic.

And Maidstone's second penalty saw the go ahead as Dickson was also booked.

A second goal soon followed to give Maidstone genuine hope of survival and Invicta's James Everitt became the next booking for a 74th minute kick at Green.

Maidstone's Green was himself booked for an 84th minute challenge on Dickson and both sides used their full quote of substitutes on a hot afternoon.

Maidstone goalkeeper Walker charged into Chappell right on the edge of the penalty area during stoppage time but there was to be no consolation for Invicta.

MAIDSTONE UNITED: Walker, Paul, Mills, Lye, Harvey, Glover, Richmond, Stubbs (Phillips 85 mins), May (Wharton 90 mins), Green (Burchell 88 mins), Flisher. Unused subs: Saunders, Marsh-Brown.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Jackson (Webb 72 mins), Friend, Chappell, Edge (Burchell 45 mins), M. Everitt, Dickson, J. Everitt (Guiver 79 mins), Dryden, Smith.

Attendance: 488.