Folkestone Invicta set up an Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie with Maidstone United thanks to a 3-0 win over Sevenoaks Town on Saturday afternoon.

With work continuing at the Alcaline Stadium, Invicta’s first home draw in the FA Cup since 2022 was held at Ashford United’s Green Box Stadium on a blustery, grey and wet afternoon. Invicta had visited Ashford in pre-season and Sevenoaks had already travelled there for an Isthmian South East fixture with both games ending as 2-2 draws.

Invicta made just one enforced change from the starting lineup that beat Chatham Town on August Bank Holiday Monday as Maxx Mantelow, on loan from Ebbsfleet United, dropped out with Jack Jebb coming into the eleven. Brad Walledge dropped out of the squad with an injury but Mikey Berry returned to the bench having missed the trip to Chatham.

It took ten minutes for either keeper to be called into action as Sevenoaks stopper Jordan Perrin dealt with an attempted ball across the face of goal from Ben Mason. Perrin was picking the ball out of his net just a minute later after a well-worked move from Montel McKenzie, Donell Thomas and Ade Yusuff freed the latter to fire home with a low effort, only for the offside flag to bring celebrations to a premature end.

Invicta went close in the 22nd minute after a throw to the edge of the Sevenoaks penalty area bounced off Jake Hutchinson and sat nicely for Jebb to strike, firing his effort narrowly over the crossbar.

Invicta’s breakthrough came in the 37th minute. A short corner opened up a shooting opportunity for Hutchinson that was blocked, the loose ball falling to Thomas who lifted a high ball into the middle of a crowd of bodies. Perrin came to punch but was beaten to the ball by Odeniran who nodded it towards Yusuff to head into an empty net.

Sevenoaks created an immediate chance to respond with a cross to the back post but James Ding was unable to hit the target with his header.

With just seconds remaining in the half, Ding felt he was fouled on the edge of the Sevenoaks penalty area but his protests were waived away by the referee as Ade Yusuff won a corner. Invicta took full advantage, the delivery finding Kevin Lokko and pinging around in the penalty area before Odeniran threw a strong left foot through the ball to send it into the top corner.

The second half began with a flurry of action, both in the Sevenoaks penalty area and in the referee’s notebook. Sevenoaks defender Ryan Sawyer was the first man to pick up a booking after attempting to rip Hutchinson’s black and amber shirt. From the free kick, the loose ball then fell to Hutchinson who fired it off the post.

The visitors cleared the ball for a throw but Invicta piled on the pressure, Hutchinson forcing Perrin to push a header onto the crossbar before Lokko saw a follow up headed off the line. As the visitors tried to get out, Warren Mfula was booked for a challenge on Mason. From the resulting free kick Sevenoaks countered, with Mfula going to ground in the Invicta penalty area, Dan Duncanson’s protests crossing a line that saw him become the third player in three minutes to pick up a booking.

Manager Jay Saunders spoke post-match about scoring goals at key times, and with both tempo and tempers rising quickly after the restart, Invicta’s third came at the perfect time to put the tie to bed. Invicta had the visitors under a period of pressure before working the ball wide to Mason who delivered a low cross that Perrin got to but spilled following a collision with Sawyer, allowing Thomas to poke the ball into an empty net and extend Invicta’s lead with his first for the club.

Substitute Josh Strouts, on for Hutchinson, saw an effort blocked shortly after coming on, Mason on hand to fire the rebound towards goal and force a low save from Perrin. Thomas then created another long range shooting opportunity for Jebb, who this time kept his effort low but straight at Perrin.

Kweku Lucan replaced Yusuff and went close to adding the fourth as he held off a defender to win the race to a long pass from Liam Smith, but his forceful strike thundered into the outside of the goal frame. Moments later Lucan was on the end of a second chance as Strouts cut the ball back to him in the middle of the penalty area but stroked the effort wide of the near post.

Invicta sent on Ronnie Dolan, Mikey Berry and teenager Dillon Simmons as the game headed towards its conclusion, Simmons picking up the final booking of the afternoon shortly after coming on for McKenzie.

Ted Collins was forced into his first real save of the afternoon with just a few minutes remaining, a cross from the left volleyed goal-bound by Jahmal Howlett-Mundle but the Invicta no. 1 threw himself to his left to push the ball to safety.

Berry saw a late effort deflected just wide of the near post before his resulting corner delivery struck the crossbar.

Victory sees Invicta now unbeaten in six at the start of the season, and on a run of four wins in a row. A home tie with Maidstone United now awaits Invicta in the 2nd Qualifying Round, with Jay Saunders set for a reunion with his former club. More information on the date, venue and ticketing will be communicated in due course.