A superb 88^th minute strike from substitute Simon Austin gave Folkestone Invicta victory away to Croydon Athletic at the KT Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

AUSTIN specialises in scoring spectacular goals and he hit a clinical finish that flew into the net across goal from the right hand side of the penalty area when Roland Edge played it into the box after James Everitt had pulled the ball back to him following a Darren Smith pass.

It had looked as though Invicta might have thrown it away as George Landais hit an 83^rd minute equaliser for the home side after Stuart King had opened the scoring during the second half and Smith had a penalty saved.

KING marked his return to the starting line up by finding the net from the right hand side of the box in the 52^nd minute after a one-two with Smith.

Goalscorer King had been out for three months following an operation on his arm and has now scored eight goals in seven starting appearances since joining Invicta during the summer.

Smith had the chance to increase the lead but his 72^nd minute penalty was saved by Charlie Mann after the home goalkeeper had brought down James Everitt.

LANDAIS equalised when he put the ball into the net after Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo had spilt a Billy Marshall free kick on the right and collided with striker Connor French.

It was Delo’s 150^th appearance in Invicta colours.

King hit a low free kick at goalkeeper Mann after a handball by centre half Justin Hemmings and Jordan Cheadle drilled a low shot wide for the Rams in the opening ten minutes.

Invicta goalkeeper Delo then saved from James Fray in the tenth minute as the home side won the game’s first corner.

The visitors then went desperately close as King curled a well-struck 12^th minute shot against the crossbar when striker Everitt played the ball over the home defence and goalkeeper Mann saved Everitt’s headed follow up.

French shot wide at the other end a minute later and Elliott Jones hit a low 14^th minute shot just wide of the far post when left back Peter Wedgeworth played the ball in as the home side threatened to open the scoring.

Marshall then fired over from outside the penalty area after Fray broke down the left hand side in the 17^th minute.

But King was denied again at the other end two minutes later when Mann came out to save after Everitt had sidefooted the ball to his striking partner in space when Edge headed a Josh Vincent ball on.

Josh Burchell then tee-d himself up in the 23^rd minute and volleyed wide from the left hand side of the penalty area.

Landais shot wide from outside the box, while Invicta gained their first corner of the game in the 32^nd minute when a King shot deflected wide of the far post after an Everitt throw on the right.

Jones shot wide for the home side in the 39^th minute after a move involving Cheadle and French.

Invicta had another chance a minute later when Burchell fired over from a central position when Edge headed a Liam Friend ball out of defence into his path.

At the other end, Landais could not get enough power on his 44^th minute header at Delo after a French cross from the right.

Invicta replaced Liam Dickson with striker Richard Atkins at half time, with Burchell dropping to left back.

And the visitors were soon ahead with King’s latest goal.

The Folkestone side were close again in the 56^th minute when Mann denied Smith after striker Everitt had squared the ball to him and the goalkeeper then kept out Everitt’s follow up on the line in a move that started when captain Micheal Everitt played the ball through after receiving it from goalkeeper Delo.

Hemmings cleared off the line to deny Atkins in the 65^th minute after a King free kick from the right hand side led to a scramble inside the home penalty area.

And Invicta were awarded their penalty when goalkeeper Mann was booked for bringing down Everitt after elder brother Micheal had found him on the left hand side of the penalty area.

But Mann saved Smith’s spot kick and then cleared his rebound with his feet.

Austin was just unable to connect and put the ball in from close range in the 79^th minute when Atkins met a Smith ball into the penalty area.

There were chances at both ends in the 80^th minute when Cheadle volleyed well wide across goal after French’s ball in from the right hand side and Invicta striker Everitt drilled a low shot just wide after an Austin touch.

Landais’ equaliser then threatened to cost Invicta.

Edge headed just wide at the far post in the 86^th minute as Invicta went in search of a late winner.

And they got it courtesy of Austin’s stunner.

Marshall was booked for a late 89^th minute challenge on Burchell and French became the third hoe player to be booked during stoppage time.

This was Invicta’s first league win over a Croydon Athletic club that they have both been promoted and relegated with during the past two seasons.

Croydon Athletic face judgement day at a forthcoming FA hearing into their well-documented problems of the past year or so.

CROYDON ATHLETIC: Mann, Hartburn, Wedgeworth (Kedze 63 mijns), Jones, Hemmings, Carter, Marshall, Cheadle, French, Landais, Fray. Unused subs: Cuf, Corbett, Lockett, N’Gokumu.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Edge (Moreby 89 mins), Smith, King (Austin 76 mins), J. Everitt, Dickson (Atkins 45 mins), M. Everitt. Unused sub: Hayward.

Attendance: 89.