Folkestone Invicta lost for the first time this summer when they went down 3-2 way to Hastings United in Saturday’s pre-season friendly at The Pilot Field.

Neil Cugley’s side found themselves 2-0 down within a quarter of an hour after conceding two goals in three minutes before coming back into the game during the latter stages of the second half and scoring through Paul Jones and Josh Vincent.

Invicta went into the game with Liam Dickson returning to the side at left back, Bret Fairman at centre half after playing at Lordswood in midweek and captain Micheal Everitt in midfield alongside Ryan Moreby and Jason Sowle.

But the Folkestone side found themselves behind in the 12th minute when Lee CAREY scored from the penalty spot after referee David Spain had penalised Moreby for a challenge.

It was 2-0 just two minutes later when striker Fred FOREMAN put the ball into the net after Ben Billings had headed the ball back at the far post when John Mellia had crossed from the right.

Invicta tried to respond but Carey cleared when a free kick was played up to Jones and the striker tried to get clear inside the penalty area.

But Hastings then had a chance to increase their lead in the 21st minute when striker Kenny Pogue poked his shot wide when a Jack Walder pass sent him clear on goal.

Sowle hit a low shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area on the half hour mark for Invicta in a move also involving James Dryden, Jones and Moreby.

Invicta central defender Frankie Chappell then had to make a saving tackle when the ball was played through to Walder inside the penalty area.

Sowle lifted a 38th minute shot at goalkeeper Lloyd Anderson from the right hand side of the penalty box after first half Hastings substitute Callum McDonald had given the ball away to Jones.

Invicta captain Everitt got back to thwart Mellia in the 42nd minute when Dryden gave the ball away.

The visitors made three substitutions at half time and were almost gifted a goal at the start of the second half when a stray back pass had Hastings goalkeeper Anderson back-tracking.

Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo touched a 53rd minute Pogue shot from the right hand side of the penalty area round the post for a corner after a move involving McDonald and Scott Manning.

And Pogue played a dangerous ball across the Invicta goal mouth from the right hand side four minutes later after a good pass from McDonald.

Invicta pulled a goal back in the 69th minute when JONES cut in and hit a well-placed low shot past Anderson and into the corner of the net after being put through by substitute Vincent in a move also involving fellow substitute James Everitt.

But Hastings restored their two-goal advantage just two minutes later with a good far post header from substitute Dan BOWELL when Foreman played the ball in from the right after a move also involving McDonald and Pogue as the rain fell.

Bowell then came across to the right hand side and hit a free kick just wide across goal in the 75th minute.

James Everitt then shot wide when put clean through down the middle in the 77th minute after a good combination of passes with Jones.

Substitute Luke Blewden was then desperately unlucky a minute later when Anderson touched his initial shot onto the post and his rebound then came back off the crossbar in a move started by Jones and Vincent.

VINCENT made it 3-2 in the 80th minute when he placed the ball over goalkeeper Anderson after Moreby had lifted it over the home defence to present the chance.

Delo touched a well-struck long shot from Jack Dixon over the bar for a corner in the 87th minute.

But Invicta could have levelled when the on-again Dryden shot wide from the left hand side of the penalty area after a Vincent touch gave him the chance to equalise.

HASTINGS UNITED: Anderson, Dixon, Sutton (Rand 71 mins), Carey, Ray, Manning, Mellia (White 62 mins), Walder (McDonald 35 mins), Pogue, Foreman (Henham 71 mins), Billings (Bowell 62 mins).

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Hollyoak, Dickson, Fairman, Chappell, M. Everitt, Sowle (Vincent 45 mins), Moreby, Jones (Dryden 85 mins), Dryden (Blewden 45 mins), King (J. Everitt 45 mins).

Attendance: 160.