Folkestone Invicta’s nine-match unbeaten run came to an end when they went down 3-2 away to Ramsgate at the Southwood Stadium on Tuesday night.

Pascal Ebigbo scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 77th minute, his second of the game, as Jim Ward’s side took the lead three times.

But goals from James Everitt and Simon Austin brought Invicta level in a game during which the Folkestone side had enough chances to have come away with at least a draw.

EBIGBO’s winner came when he was sent clear by substitute Joe Taylor as the Invicta defence pushed up for offside and touched the ball past Jack Delo who had raced out before going round the Invicta goalkeeper and putting the ball into an empty net.

One-time Nigeria Under 23 international EBIGBO had opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he shot across goal and into the far corner of the net from the right hand side.

Invicta were level in the 22nd minute with another well-taken goal from EVERITT who took his remarkable run to 11 goals in the last ten matches after hitting all four goals in Saturday’s home F. A. Trophy win over Daventry.

But Ian PULMAN restored Ramsgate’s lead on his return to the club in the 33rd minute when he took advantage after Josh Burchell had headed the ball back across his own goal after a Simon Pettit cross from the left.

Substitute AUSTIN made it 2-2 in the 68th minute when, urged on by manager Neil Cugley on the touchline, he chased the ball down and was there to put the ball into the net from a slight angle on the left hand side of the penalty area when goalkeeper Danny Twyman made a total mess of his attempted clearance and mis-cued.

Invicta had gone into the game on a drizzly night with Darren Smith back in midfield in place of Ryan Moreby, having missed Saturday’s game after being unwell.

But Ramsgate started the game with a succession of corners and soon went ahead.

Pulman then brought a ball out of defence down really well but was dispossessed by central defender Liam Friend and a 12th minute Steve O’Brien free kick from the left eluded everybody in the middle and went out for a goal kick.

Delo then had to push a low 25-ayrd Warren Schulz shot wide for a corner on the quarter of an hour mark.

But Everitt’s equaliser brought Invicta level and back on course.

Burchell then broke into the penalty area down the left hand side in the 24th minute but James Gregory got across to deny him and a defender blocked when Everitt threatened to strike again after a Smith ball three minutes later.

The in-form Everitt was then desperately unlucky in the 32nd minute when his 25-yardshot came back off the inside of the post with Twyman beaten as the visitors so nearly went ahead.

But Ramsgate themselves went 2-1 up a minute later.

Invicta responded as Richard Atkins shot at Twyman after striking partner Everitt played the ball to Burchell.

The visitors then had a couple of chances during first half stoppage time as Atkins shot over in a move also involving Roland Edge, Josh Vincent and Smith and Burchell then shot high and wide from the left hand side of the penalty area.

Burchell shot wide again in the 54th minute when captain Micheal Everitt played a free kick up to Liam Dickson.

At the other end, Pulman shot wide from the right hand side of the penalty area two minutes later after an exchange of passes with Ebigbo.

Twyman saved from Edge in the 65th minute after a move involving Vincent, Austin and James Everitt.

Goalscorer Everitt then turned inside the penalty area a minute later but Twyman saved and Everitt then headed just wide seconds later after a ball in from the right.

Ebigbo cut in from the right and let fly in the 67th minute but Delo got across to palm his shot away.

And Austin brought Invicta level again a minute later.

Delo saved from Petitt but Invicta now had aspirations to win the game as Frankie Chappell headed over a 70th minute Burchell corner from the right.

Smith shot wide in the 76th minute after another Burchell corner from the right was headed back out to the edge of the penalty area.

But Ebigbo’s second goal was ot put Invicta behind again.

An 89th minute James Everitt shot across goal was deflected wide of the far post for a corner when Chappell met a Smith ball into the penalty area.

Ebigbo got in behind the Invicta defence again a minute later but Delo comfortably saved his shot from the right hand side.

Chappell finished the game in attack for Invicta and headed wide after a Smith ball into the penalty area during stoppage time

Ramsgate’s Folkestone-based right back Michael Yianni was booked for bringing Burchell down on the left hand side of the penalty area deep into stoppage time but substitute Moreby fired wide when Smith squared the subsequent free kick to him as Invicta’s last chance of saving the day came and went.

Invicta’s Vincent and Micheal Everitt had also been booked during the second half.

RAMSGATE: Twyman, Yianni, Gregory, Wheatley, Quinn, Pettit, Ebigbo (Chapman 90 mins), Schulz, Lovell (Sherwood 81 mins), Pulman (Taylor 65 mins), O’Brien. Unused subs: Gray, Parker.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Edge, Smith, Atkins (Austin 63 mins), J. Everitt, Dickson (Moreby 70 mins), M. Everitt. Unused subs: Mortimer, Hayward.

Attendance: 227.