Folkestone Invicta moved into third place in the Ryman League Division One South with a 3-1 win over ten-men Worthing in an incident-packed game at the Buzzlines Stadium on Wednesday night.

Ryan Moreby, James Everitt and Josh Vincent scored the goals after John Lansdale had opened the scoring for previously unbeaten Worthing before visiting defender Matt Hurley was sent off in the 24th minute after an off-the-ball incident with Invicta striker Everitt.

When the dust had settled, Invicta had won their last four league matches and five out of their opening six Ryman League fixtures so far this season after their first home league victory over Worthing.

With top goalscorer Stuart King (operation on his arm), Richard Atkins (broken collarbone), Paul jones (ankle), Roland Edge (chest infection) and Liam Dickson (work commitments) unavailable, Invicta gave a debut to the impressive James Rogers, signed on dual registration forms from Dartford.

Luke Blewden also came in up front alongside Everitt, with Moreby returning to the starting line up in midfield.

And Invicta’s first home Ryman League midweek fixture on a Wednesday night proved to be a lively affair against a Worthing side who are the division’s leading goalscorers so far this season.

Worthing’s Jamie Brotherton chipped over from the edge of the penalty area in the eighth minute after a Jack Delo throw fell to him.

LANSDALE then put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute with a deflected free kick from the left hand side that flew into the net.

Invicta manager Neil Cugley was spoken to by the officials as he disputed the award of the free kick on what was to be a busy night for referee Lee Venamore.

Home striker Everitt was then booked for a 15th minute challenge as the home side’s early frustrations grew.

Everitt was involved again in the big turning point as Hurley was given a straight red card after referee Venamore had been guided by one of his assistants who was closest to the incident.

The visitors had to re-adjust as defender Billy Franks replaced Darren Budd.

A 29th minute James Everitt shot was then blocked by Lansdale after a ball in from the right hand side.

At the other end, Luke Gedling hit a well-struck shot at Delo from the edge of the penalty area.

But Worthing were having to defend resolutely as Lansdale made a saving interception in the 37th minute when James Everitt nodded the ball towards Darren Smith.

Big Glen Woodburn then cleared for Invicta’s first corner of the night a minute later when Josh Burchell played the ball up to Rogers inside the penalty area.

Worthing goalkeeper Alan Mansfield made the first of several good saves in the 43rd minute when he denied Blewden after Moreby had slipped the ball through after James Everitt had played the ball out to the right.

But Invicta were level in the 45th minute when defender Frankie Chappell met a Rogers corner from the right and MOREBY drilled the ball in for his first goal for the club.

Invicta finished the first half in the ascendancy and could even have gone ahead during stoppage time as Mansfield saved to deny Blewden at the near post at the expense of a corner when Liam Friend played the ball down the left hand side of the penalty area.

James Everitt then hooked the ball just wide of the far post from the right hand side of the penalty area.

Invicta did not take long to go close after the interval as Smith forced a good save from Mansfield for a corner within 15 seconds of the re-start after a Blewden touch down the right hand side of the penalty area.

Former Dover Athletic and Margate player Rogers was then put through down the middle in the 49th minute but Mansfield came out to save again and Blewden was just unable to convert the rebound.

Smith hit a well-struck 56th minute shot narrowly over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area and Blewden headed over a Rogers corner from the right from close range three minutes later.

Mansfield denied Invicta again on the hour when James Everitt was put through down the middle, with Smith’s rebound being blocked and Franks clearing from close to the line as Invicta piled on the pressure.

Mansfield came out to make another good save in the 65th minute when a good Invicta move resulted in a chance for Smith.

Worthing manager Chris White and combative centre forward Ryan McBride were both spoken to by the officials before the division’s leading goalscorer McBride was eventually booked for dissent in the 74th minute.

Invicta then had penalty appeals for handball waved away as the game remained on edge.

Worthing were battling away for a point as Woodburn headed away again for a corner when a deflected Rogers ball came into the penalty area.

Chappell headed at Mansfield in the 79th minute after a Smith ball in following a short free kick with Vincent.

Tom Lawley played the ball back just behind substitute Mark Pulling after a dangerous break down the right hand side.

But Invicta soon made the breakthrough in the 82nd minute when EVERITT slotted the ball into the net after Moreby had pulled it back.

Invicta brought substitute Matt Hollyoak on for Blewden, with Vincent moving up into midfield and Smith into attack.

There was a scare in the 89th minute when Lawley went down under challenge from Invicta goalkeeper Delo on the left hand side of the penalty area but only got a corner for his efforts.

Vincent mis-directed a late ball into the penalty area to Smith as Invicta threatened to score again after a move also involving Moreby.

But it was VINCENT who made it 3-1 in the 90th minute when he headed in at the far post after Smith had played the ball back in from the left hand side.

McBride losing his temper at half time and a flare up on the final whistle involving Pulling and Vincent were in keeping with the highly charged atmosphere.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Rogers, Smith (Guiver 90 mins), J. Everitt, Blewden (Hollyoak 83 mins), Moreby (Miller 90 mins), M. Everitt. Unused subs: Jackson, Hayward.

WORTHING: Mansfield, Lansdale, Piper, Budd (Franks 25 mins), Hurley, Woodburn, Brotherton (Timms 64 mins), Gedling, McBride (Pulling 75 mins), Manton, Lawley. Unused subs: Charles, Murphy.

Attendance: 179.