Folkestone Invicta slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Sittingbourne in the Ryman League Division One South on Saturday afternoon as a second half penalty and a stoppage time goal both scored by Joe Goldsmith gave the home side victory.

Bourne Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Invicta and this was a repeat of the 2-0 reverse they had suffered on their last visit in February 2010.

Simon Austin had been sent off on that occasion and the striker was back in Invicta colours on Saturday for the first time since leaving the club at the end of March after an agreement with neighbours Hythe Town.

Matt Hollyoak and Roland Edge also came back into the starting eleven as full backs, with Josh Burchell and Josh Vincent in more advanced roles in midfield.

Austin partnered James Everitt in attack, with the latter making his 250th starting appearance for the club, in the continued absence of strikers Richard Atkins (broken collarbone), Paul Jones (ankle) and Stuart King (operation on arm).

But after firing a blank in the previous Saturday’s F. A. Cup tie at home to Whitrehawk, Invicta again failed to build on what had been a promising start to the season with five wins in their opening six league matches.

The all-important first goal on Saturday came in the 57th minute when Ryan Golding was brought down by Edge after being put through and GOLDSMITH stepped up to hit a well-struck penalty past goalkeeper Jack Delo.

GOLDSMITH doubled the lead during stoppage time after being given on-side to touch the ball in from close range when substitute Josh West had broken clean through and squared the ball across.

Sittingbourne had an early chance as Goldsmith headed over in the second minute when Jaie Nuttall played the ball across from the right after visiting central defender Frankie Chappell had blocked an Elie Kayembe shot.

Delo then claimed the ball in the ninth minute as it came across towards Hicham Akhazzan at the far post when Goldsmith found Kayembe down the right hand side.

For Invicta, Burchell hit a free kick just over the crossbar from the right after a foul by home captain Jamie Coyle on Vincent.

And an Austin shot on the turn from just outside the penalty area was saved by home goalkeeper Tim Roberts on the quarter of an hour mark after a Hollyoak ball in from the right.

Sittingbourne should have opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Golding somehow chested the ball over the crossbar from close range when Kayembe played a one-two with Akhazzan down the right hand side of the penalty area.

Invicta had a chance just before half time but James Everitt couldn’t quite get Vincent’s ball in from the right under control in the middle of the penalty area.

Visiting defender Liam Friend blocked a 50th minute Akhazzan shot when Ryan Cooper pulled the ball back from the right hand side, while a deflected Darren Smith free kick gave Invicta their first corner of the game four minutes later.

Goldsmith’s penalty broke the deadlock and ten minutes later Friend got back to block from substitute West after Golding had got in behind the Invicta defence and squared the ball across.

Invicta were then denied a penalty of their own when Edge’s ball into the penalty area struck Coyle on the hand.

Chappell dived across to block in the 68th minute when Colin Richmond played the ball to Akhazzan inside the penalty area.

Invicta captain Micheal Everitt shot at Sittingbourne goalkeeper Roberts in the 74th minute after a Burchell touch in a move also involving Smith and Edge.

Chappell moved up from centre half to centre forward and went three at the back with Vincent and Edge either side of Friend.

A double substitution then saw Luke Blewden and Andrew Miller replace strikers Everitt and Austin.

Substitute Ryan Moreby showed good skill after cutting in from the right flank in the 85th minute but was fouled right on the edge of the penalty area and Roberts touched round the post for a corner after Burchell’s subsequent free kick.

A low 89th minute Smith free kick was comfortably saved by Roberts after a foul by Coyle on Chappell right on the edge of the penalty area.

But Goldsmith’s second goal put the result beyond doubt and there was to be no consolation for Invicta as Moreby fired wide after breaking through deep into stoppage time.

SITTINGBOURNE: Roberts, Cooper, Palfrey, Coyle, Golding (Girt 83 mins), Richmond, Nuttall (Hooper 74 mins), Goldsmith, Akhazzan, Kayembe (West 65 mins), Manners. Unused subs: Holness, Reed.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Hollyoak (Moreby 65 mins), Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Edge, Smith, J. Everitt (Blewden 79 mins), Austin (Miller 79 mins), Vincent, M. Everitt. Unused subs: Dickson, Hayward.

Attendance: 202.