A much-changed Invicta side ruthlessly punished Burgess Hill Town on Saturday to secure passage to the FA Trophy Second Round and a meeting with National League South side AFC Totton at the Alcaline Stadium next month.

Jay Saunders made five changes to the side that started the 6-0 win over Lewes on Tuesday evening, with Kevin Lokko, Dean Rance, Donell Thomas and Joe Pigott all dropping to the bench while Liam Smith served his suspension for his sending off seven days earlier against Dulwich Hamlet. Into the side came Mikey Berry, Josh Strouts and Ronnie Dolan, accompanied by academy players Harry Uttley at right back and Taj Oliver on the left side of midfield.

It took Invicta nearly 100 seconds to strike the first blow of the afternoon, a lot longer than the 23 seconds it had taken on Tuesday evening! Ronnie Dolan picked out the run of Josh Strouts with a long pass, the Invicta forward rounded goalkeeper Roco Rees who had come racing from his penalty area but a perfectly timed tackle from defender Jack Meares denied him a shot on goal. Thankfully for Invicta it was Jake Hutchinson who was first to the loose ball to fire into an empty net.

Our hosts looked to respond but could only muster an effort high over the crossbar before Invicta struck again to double the lead inside the first 15 minutes. Mikey Berry spread the ball wide to Uttley who laid it inside to Dolan, a first time cross into the box toward Strouts caught on the volley by the forward, looping up and over Rees into the net.

Invicta had seen a two-goal lead disappear in our league visit in September and were given a first warning in the 32nd minute as the Isthmian Premier Division joint-leading goalscorer Chris Whelpdale fired across the face of goal, the ball striking the inside of the post and popping up perfectly into the arms of Ted Collins.

It looked like Invicta may have done enough to kill off the tie a few minutes later when Jack Jebb was gifted the third of the afternoon. A pass out from Rees was left short and Jebb was quickest to react and beat the Burgess Hill man to it, taking a touch before lifting it over Rees into an empty net.

Burgess Hill did strike back almost immediately. Invicta’s defence were unable to clear a ball that eventually reached Stefan Vukoje at the back post who cut back inside and unleashed an effort that struck an Invicta body on its way in to cut the deficit.

Jebb fired a free kick over the bar as he looked to restore Invicta’s three-goal advantage but Burgess Hill went straight back down the other end and were awarded a contentious penalty after Ben Mason blocked a low cross and the ball ricocheted up into his arm. Whelpdale stepped up to take the kick but struck it against the crossbar, Invicta relieved to head into the break with their two-goal lead.

Invicta replaced Jebb with Donell Thomas at the break and immediately went on the attack, Strouts and Berry both forcing saves with efforts straight at Rees in the early minutes of the half.

Berry forced another save from outside the penalty area as we approached the midway point of the half, Whelpdale then striking the woodwork again moments later at the other end from a tight angle although Collins looked to have his near post covered.

Into the final 10 minutes Invicta had a shout for a penalty after Thomas was brought down in the box but were only awarded a corner. Burgess Hill cleared the set piece and went on the attack, a cross into the near post where Brannon O’Neil’s header forced a great save from Collins to turn it onto the post.

Hutchinson saw an effort smothered by Rees as he looked to wrap up the game. He was soon given the chance to from the spot in the final minute after Bobby Price kicked Mikey Berry in the face inside the penalty area. Hutchinson stepped up to send Rees the wrong way and net his fourth goal of the week, taking him to seven for the season – Invicta’s highest scorer in all competitions.

The final minutes against 10 men saw no threat to Collins’ goal as Invicta passed safely into the 2nd Round draw.

Next up for Invicta is a trip to Aveley’s Parkside on Tuesday evening where we will take on Hashtag United in the Isthmian Premier Division. Seats are available on our supporters’ coach. Click here to book.