Folkestone Invicta recorded a biggest league victory since January 2022 with a ruthless second-half performance against Lewes to climb back to second in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Having been just seconds from victory with ten men on Saturday against Dulwich Hamlet, Jay Saunders opted to make just a single change for the first game under the Alcaline Stadium floodlights since March. Having replaced Mikey Berry as a substitute after an hour against Dulwich, Jack Jebb came in from the start in midfield.

Having swapped ends before kick off, supporters (and photographers!) were still making their way around the stadium when Invicta set the tone for the evening after just 23 seconds. Montel McKenzie found Jake Hutchinson inside the Lewes penalty area, the forward driving to the byline and turning to deliver a cross that was met by Joe Pigott ten yards from goal, a controlled half volley beating Louis Rogers in the Lewes goal – a fifth strike in four appearances for Invicta’s number 14.

Ted Collins was forced into a first simple save of the evening in the fifth minute after a cleared corner was returned into the penalty area onto the head of Billie Clark. Invicta went straight down the other end and saw a Liam Smith cross fall to the feet of Pigott who drilled a low effort at the near post to force a good stop from Rogers to deny him a second. Two corners in quick succession from Jebb found Kevin Lokko but both were eventually cleared by the visitors.

Clark struck the post with an effort from 10 yards moments before Kevin Lokko forced a save from Rogers at the other end, but both efforts were quickly followed by an offside flag.

There was no such reprieve for Lewes when it mattered in the 16th minute as Joel-Michael Odeniran and Pigott battled with Clarke and Tito Salaam to reach a Jebb corner, the ball popping up off Clarke for Odeniran to volley home from close range – his second strike of the season.

Clarke had a half chance to turn the tide a few minutes later, meeting a cross beyond the back post, doing well to stretch enough to get to the ball but unable to turn it back towards goal.

Invicta continued to push for a third at the other end as Donell Thomas delivered a cross from the left that forced Rogers into action to parry it away. Jake Hutchinson then fired over from the edge of the penalty area following a short corner from Invicta.

Jebb was afforded the opportunity to go directly for goal shortly after the half hour mark when Odeniran found him with a ball down the left flank. Rogers came but was nowhere near the ball as Jebb poked it beyond him into space before shooting at the empty net from wide. Cameron Andrews did well to get back and clear the effort off the goal-line.

Invicta were in control but still looking to add to their lead as we approached the break. Hutchinson struck the post and fired an effort wide but was flagged offside on both occasions and Kevin Lokko headed wide from another corner, but Jay Saunders and his side would have to be content with a two-goal lead at the break.

Invicta remained unchanged after the break and almost repeated their start to the first half. A long pass from the defence was allowed to go by a Lewes defender, Thomas running onto it but firing just wide, although the offside flag would have denied him had he found the bottom corner.

A free kick from Perri Landolo moved in the air to cause Collins problems but the Invicta keeper managed to parry it away, the follow-up fired across the face of goal and wide.

Thomas got his goal in the 57th minute after a cross from Ben Mason fell to Pigott who saw his strike blocked only for Thomas to smash a left-footed effort beyond Rogers in front of the packed open terrace.

Thomas went for a second with a solo run on the left, cutting inside and firing just beyond the far post. Lewes’ Clarke then fired just over after being picked out in space as Invicta reshuffled with a number of changes, introducing Ronnie Dolan, Josh Strouts, Ike Orji and Mikey Berry.

Invicta continued to threaten to increase the scoring as Lokko headed straight at Rogers, Hutchinson turned and hit a high effort to force a save and Strouts met a low cross at the near post to force a corner that was then headed over from close range by Odeniran.

It was Lokko who finally found the breakthrough with the first of three goals in the final eight minutes of the night, the captain rose highest to meet a Jebb corner and power his header in off the underside of Rogers’ crossbar.

The visitors hadn’t recovered by the time Invicta struck again. Orji found Berry with a pass down the right channel; the midfielder then rolled the ball across the six yard box for Hutchinson to finish from close range for a well deserved goal.

Lewes now seemingly in self-destruct mode gifted Invicta a sixth. Strouts raced onto an undercut backpass and squared the ball to Hutchinson who took a touch to send a defender tumbling before firing into an empty net from close range for his second of the evening less than two minutes after his first.

It could have got even worse for Lewes in injury time with Strouts finding Berry inside the penalty area but Rogers got down low to save the midfielder’s effort to keep the scoreline to six – the biggest league victory for Invicta since a 7-0 thrashing of Potters Bar Town in January 2022 and a biggest home league victory since a 6-0 win over Canvey Island in November 2016.

Midfielder Donell Thomas was awarded Player of the Match by our matchday sponsors FIFC Business Club. If you’re a local business wishing to join our club and network with fellow, like-minded entrepreneurs email us at partnerships@folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk.

Invicta take a break from league action on Saturday as we head to Burgess Hill Town in the FA Trophy First Round. Seats are available on our supporters’ coach and can be booked online here.