Invicta’s fourth successive defeat saw them forced down two places to joint fifth in the table after Leiston romped to a 5-0 win away at Harrow Borough and Staines were denied victory by a stoppage time equaliser from the home side in their eventual 2-2 draw at Brightlingsea and took over was to third place in the Bostik Premier Division.
And while it was a penalty in each half that led to Folkestone’s 2-1 home midweek defeat by Worthing, it was own goals that led to another loss for Neil Cugley’s side.
Play was held up for almost 10 minutes fairly early on when a linesman had to be replaced after pulling a muscle but once play resumed, with both sides opting for a fairly direct approach on Town’s 3G surface at the Harlow Arena, it was the visitors who went ahead through Ade Yusuff who tucked home his 17th goal of the season from a cross by Johan Ter Horst.
Goalmaker Ter Horst was returning to the side from injury after missing the home defeats by Harrow and Worthing.
Widemen Toby Ajala and Junior Dadson were always likely to pose problems but it was not until first half stoppage time – extended by some eight minutes because of the change of match officials – that Harlow got back on terms when Matt Newman turned a low cross into his own net.
And things got worse for Invicta when even later in the time added on big former Premiership defender Ibrahima Sonko put the Essex side 2-1 up at the break.
Unfortunate centre back Newman was also “credited” with Harlow’s third goal when he got the last touch as Folkestone’s goal came under renewed pressure seconds before the hour.
Home keeper David Hughes was sent off by referee Mike Robertson-Tant for a professional foul to deny the lively Ter Horst a goalscoring opportunity on 66 minutes.
After going close several times, Ter Horst grabbed his fifth goal in the fourth appearance of his loan spell from Maidstone but it was just too little too late to preserve Folkestone’s unbeaten record at this stadium.
This was only Invicta’s second visit to the Harlow Arena having pulled off a dramatic 2-2 draw with their former defender Danny Chapman’s team through very late goals by Miles Cornwell and Euan Sahadow.
Folkestone next take on Thurrock at home on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm.
Invicta: Roberts; Vincent, O’Mara (Blanks), Dolan, Davies, Newman, Hasler (Taylor), Heard , Ter Horst, Yusuff, McCann (Wright). Subs not used: Cooper, Shaw