Invicta struck four in a topsy-turvy first half on Saturday to secure a first ever league victory at Theobolds Lane in Hertfordshire. Cheshunt were brushed aside in torrid conditions as Jay Saunders’ side maintained their position at the top of the Isthmian Premier Division.

Saunders made three changes from the side which took on AFC Totton in the FA Trophy a week earlier. Both Ike Orji and Adam Lovatt returned – having been cup-tied against Totton – alongside Joe Pigott. Ade Yusuff, Josh Strouts and Jack Jebb all dropped to the bench, which also featured Donell Thomas for the first time in three weeks.

Having failed to find the net in both meetings last season, Invicta wasted little time in getting off the mark after Joel-Michael Odeniran found the net for the third time this season in the sixth minute. A Mikey Berry corner found the head of Pigott; a Cheshunt body blocked the route to goal only for the ball to fall between Odeniran and Jake Hutchinson, the defender first to the ball to fire it high beyond Cheshunt keeper Ayman Azeze.

Cheshunt were level just 77 seconds later after Invicta failed to clear the ball out of the penalty area, Reon Smith-Kouassi poking it to former Invicta man Matthias Fanimo in enough space for the winger to pass the ball across the face of goal into the bottom corner.

Invicta thought they had retaken the lead within two minutes. Odeniran headed a corner goal-bound to force a save from Azeze, but the ball fell to Hutchinson who buried the chance from close range, only for the flag to be raised.

It wouldn’t take long for Invicta to find that second goal, a Montel McKenzie cross in the 17th minute cleared as far as Lovatt who set himself and unleashed an effort from 25 yards beyond Azeze inside the far post, his first strike for the club since joining from Hashtag United last month.

Liam Smith received treatment and was eventually replaced by Ben Mason before the game restarted but Inivcta’s lead only lasted four and a half minutes before Cheshunt levelled for a second time. The hosts took a corner short to Jesse Effa who cut inside and fired low at the near post to beat Ted Collins and leave us all square once more.

In the 34th minute, Invicta thought they should have had a penalty after Berry was tripped as he burst through the Cheshunt defence into the penalty area. Any injustice was put to bed just 40 seconds later as Pigott found Hutchinson with a long pass into the penalty spot, Invicta’s top scorer taking a touch before firing high into the roof of the net.

Invicta were not to be pegged back quickly this time and eventually found breathing space in injury time as Hutchinson, Berry and Pigott combined to release the latter beyond the Cheshunt defence, beating a sliding challenge to fire across the face of goal and into the far corner from a tight angle, sending Invicta in two goals up at the break.

The rain had been gradually getting heavier all afternoon and was at its peak by the time we kicked off for the second half, conditions for the players only worsening as the game continued. Cheshunt resisted a pair of early corners and a long throw-in in the early minutes of the second half as both sides struggled to create anything meaningful to test the goalkeepers.

Invicta introduced Jebb, Yusuff and Strouts to the action as the half wore on, Yusuff eventually forcing the first save of the second half with ten minutes to play after he headed a Strouts cross into the floor but straight at Azeze. Donell Thomas made his return to action before Yusuff went close again, an effort from a tight angle deflected wide of the near post.

Thomas found Yusuff in the box deep into injury time but the forward’s left-footed effort was blocked by a defender. The referee then called time on the afternoon just seconds later and the Invicta players and staff headed over to thank the travelling supporters – packed tightly under cover behind the goal.

Weather is set to be much dryer on Tuesday night when Invicta head to Wingate & Finchley looking to extend a run that currently stands at five consecutive league victories.