Fourth-placed Folkestone Invicta recorded a notable 1-0 win away to third-placed Whitehawk to end the Brighton-based club’s unbeaten home record in the Ryman League Division One South this season on Saturday afternoon.

The win sends Invicta into Christmas in excellent spirits after they had also beaten fellow play-off challengers Maidstone United in midweek.

Top goalscorer James Everit scored the all-important goal in the 12th minute and Neil Cugley’s side defended resolutely during the second half.

Whitehawk were comfortable winners in the F. A. Cup at the Buzzlines Stadium earlier in the season, but Invicta have since completed a league double over one of the title favourites.

On their first visit to East Brighton Park, Invicta had gone into their last away match of 2011 with player-coach coming back in for suspended captain Micheal Everitt.

James Fraser headed at Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo in the seventh minute when home captain Paul Armstrong found Ben Godfrey on the right.

But Invicta went ahead when EVERITT drilled a low shot across goal into the far corner of the net from the right hand side of the penalty area after Darren Marsden had played the ball up to him.

Invicta were then close again with two chances in the 15th minute. Firstly Everitt was close to adding to his tally when goalkeeper Chris Winterton managed to keep the ball out at the far post when Josh Burchell played the ball in from the right. And Stuart King was then just wide of the far post with an audacious chip from the right hand side of the box.

James Fraser let fly from a central position in the 19th minute but his 20-yard shot went straight at Delo and centre half Sami El-Abd headed over a Tommy Fraser free kick five minutes later after a foul by Liam Friend on Sam Gargan.

At the other end, a 28th minute King shot deflected off El-Abd at Winterton after a good through ball from Edge in a move started by Everitt.

Craig Richards found James Fraser down the right hand side on the half hour mark but Frankie Chappell beat Godfrey to the ball in and played it out for a corner. It was Chappell’s 150th consecutive appearance for Invicta since he last missed a match ta Met Police through suspension in February 2009.

Invicta then had goalkeeper Delo to thank for a great point blank save when the ball fell to Godfrey in the 42nd minute after a run from James Fraser.

The second half saw Whitehawk enjoy the bulk of possession as they threw everything at Invicta in search of an equaliser.

The visitors would have been pleased with a point before kick off but now they had something to defend were determined to hold on all for all three points.

James Fraser shot tamely at Delo in the 47th minute after a move involving brother Tommy, Armstrong and Richards.

Tommy Fraser then hit a good 56th minute strike just wide of the post when brother James played the ball back from the right hand side.

Marsden shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area in a rare second half Invicta attack a minute later.

Armstrong shot agonisingly wide of the far post for Whitehawk in the 62nd minute following a Gargan ball from the right hand side of the penalty area.

And Invicta’s Josh Vincent got back to block from Godfrey when the ball broke in the 68th minute as the visitors dug in.

Delo then made a good 72nd minute save to deny Gargan after an Armstrong flick when Mark Knee played the ball up to Tommy Fraser.

Defender Friend broke forward for Invicta down the left hand side after collecting the ball from Darren Smith in the 89th minute and crossed just in front of substitute Richard Atkins in the middle.

Whitehawk had brought on former Dover Athletic winger Jerahl Hughes and player-manager Darren Freeman.

But they could not find that elusive goal and Delo denied them again in the 90th minute when he touched over a well-struck Gargan free kick from a central position for a corner.

Referee Tomlinson stopped play to book Whitehawk substitute Karley Akehurst and award Invicta a stoppage time free kick for dissent.

Invicta’s Burchell (44th minute) and Whitehawk’s Gargan (50th minute challenge on Burchell) had also earlier been booked.

WHITEHAWK: Winterton, Richards, Knee (Freeman 83 mins), Armstrong, El-Abd, Pullen, Godfrey, T. Fraser (Akehurst 83 mins), Gargan, J. Fraser, Jones (Hughes 52 mins). Unused subs: Keehan, Fisk.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Dickson, Smith, King (Atkins 85 mins), J. Everitt, Marsden, Edge. Unused subs: Austin, Mortimer.

Attendance: 79.