Chatham Town ran out 3-1 winners over Invicta on Saturday, securing a 6th consecutive victory and leaving Invicta still searching for a first win over The Chats since 2015.

Interim manager Tim Dixon returned to the dugout having been unavailable for the previous weekend’s trip to Cheshunt, making 2 changes to the side with Luke Allen & Matthias Fanimo replacing Ade Yusuff & Evans Kouassi.

Invicta started brightly, Dan Smith forcing a simple save from a tight angle and Miquel Scarlett nearly finding the net with a cross from the right. Chatham Meanwhile were posing problems from set pieces, Invicta surviving a goalmouth scramble in the 15th minute.

Dan Smith rose high in the Chatham penalty area to meet a Joe Turner free kick but headed his chance to open the scoring just wide, Chatham were ahead just minutes later from a free kick of their own. Invicta failed to deal with Jack Evans’ deliver from deep, the ball eventually falling to Jordy Robins who fired through a crowd of players to open the scoring.

Former Invicta man Evans was first into the referee’s book just after the half hour mark when he brought down Scarlett as Invicta looked to launch an attack. Jonny Henly joined him for a foul on John Ufuah outside his penalty area, with Reece Butler then getting himself a booking as one of a number of Chatham players suggesting Henly should have been receiving a harsher punishment. Once tempers had settled down it was Butler on the end of Evans’ free kick to turn the ball home and double the visitors’ lead.

With Invicta trailing 2-0 at half time, Ade Yusuff replaced Smith who had received treatment during the first half.

Joe Turner forced a save from distance as Invicta looked to find a route back into the game, but he would end up being the provider shortly before the hour mark. Sid Nelson fouled Ade Yusuff wide on the left, the defender becoming the third Chatham man in the book for his reaction, Turner deliver the set piece into the middle of the penalty area for Amadou Kassaraté to rise high and head beyond Henry Molyneux.

Substitute Simon Cooper was the 4th Chatham man into the book after holding on to Yusuff’s arm as the Invicta forward looked to break away. Henly delivered the ball into the penalty area where it bounced before being collected by Molyneux who preventing it crossing the goal-line.

With time running out for Invicta to find a late equaliser, Chatham finally killed the game through Jamie Yila who raced away on the left flank before rounding Henly and finishing into the empty net to kill off the match. Yila became the 5ht Chatham player to see a yellow card in the aftermath of his celebrations.

The defeat leaves Invicta 12th in the Isthmian Premier Division on 51 points with 5 games remaining ahead of a trip to leaders Dartford on Saturday.

Miquel Scarlett was selected as Man of the Match by Coral Hearnden from our sponsors Pro Parts who enjoyed the match from Cugley’s Lounge. We wish to thank Coral and Pro Parts for their support of Folkestone Invicta.

Invicta will return to the Alcaline Stadium on Saturday 12th April when we host Bowers & Pitsea before our final home fixture of the season against Lewes on Easter Monday (21st April).