Folkestone Invicta were came up against a Chatham Town side who look to be hitting top form on Saturday, The Chats extending their unbeaten run to 11 as Andy Drury’s side were punished for a failure to deal with set pieces.

Drury would have been buoyed as he arrived at the Bauvill Stadium, where was part of the team that won the 2022/23 Isthmian South East title, as he was able to call upon a number of players that had been unavailable in recent weeks. Although captain Ian Gayle missed out, Frankie Morgan, Joel Odeniran and Matthias Fanimo returned from the start. The bench meanwhile was stronger than it has been of late, Tom Derry returned from suspension along with Khale Da Costa from injury. New additions to the squad Sam Smith, on a 1-month loan from Maidstone United, and Tyler Anderson, who made his debut on Tuesday after signing from Beckenham Town, made up the bench with academy goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.

Invicta kicked off the afternoon attacking the large terrace that sits atop of the changing rooms at the Bauvill Stadium, the sun setting behind it just in time to avoid it being an issue in the eyes of Jonny Henly. Odeniran had the first sight of goal of the afternoon, heading a free kick into the stand after 4 minutes. Invicta won the ball back from the goal kick and worked Amadou Kassaraté into space, the midfielder tripped just before he entered the penalty area, despite protests for a penalty. Odeniran was again on the end of the delivery, Chatham goalkeeper Joe Wright spilling the ball over the crossbar.

Invicta were enjoying the majority of possession and territory up until Chatham forward Freddie Sears showed the quality you would expect from a former Premier League player to give the hosts the lead after 18 minutes. A loose pass allowed Chatham to regain possession in the Invicta half, the ball bobbling to Sears who took a touch and unleashed an effort from 25 yards that first appeared to be going high and wide but whipped a long way back into the top corner, Henly given absolutely no chance.

Despite having the lead, tempers flared on the Chatham bench as manager Kevin Hake was sent off midway through the first half for an altercation with Gavin Hoyte, who got a caution for his part.

Drury’s side continued to look the more positive, despite neither keeper having their reflexes tested, it appeared Invicta would be going in 1-0 down at the break until a well worked move Brough Joe Turner his first goal in black & amber. Dean Rance was fouled as he won the ball 10 yard inside the Invicta half, the referee allowing him to play on and find a cross-field pass to Fanimo. The right winger came inside, just as Turner did from the left to make a run through the middle of the Chatham defence, a superb first touch taking the pass that came behind him into his path before he poked the ball beyond Wright to level the score.

But parity wasn’t to last as Invicta switched off to allow Chatham to regain the lead within minutes. A cross from the left found Sears at the back post, who controlled the ball and sent it back into the 6-yard box for Rowan Liburd to climb high and head beyond Henly and restore the lead.

Invicta started the second half with Kassaraté heading tamely into Wright’s arms from a corner, Chatham breaking quickly with Sears seeing his effort taker a deflection and loop just past the post for a corner.

The game was ripped away from Invicta in the 54th minute: a corner headed back across goal, a mishit clearance and the ball fell to Sears, this time a much simpler finish from close range to leave Invicta with a huge uphill task to get anything from their trip.

Invicta rarely looked like cutting the deficit back as the Chatham defence showed why they have conceded just 7 goals in their last 12 matches. Finally, with 15 minutes to go, The Chats completed the scoring as Invicta were punished for failing to deal with another set piece, a free kick on the byline send into the box and eventually falling to John Ufuah to smash high into the net from close range.

Neither side managed much to trouble the scoring beyond that, Chatham substitute Kareem Isiaka firing over from a cut back to the edge of the penalty area but both keeper’s gloves remained unused for the majority of the second half.

Invicta are left to dust ourselves down ahead of a busy Christmas period, with Saturday’s visit of Dartford the first of 4 games in 12 days, 3 of them at the Alcaline Stadium with our Boxing Day trip to Lewes sandwiched in-between.