Folkestone Invicta sit top of the Isthmian Premier Division for the first time in nearly six years as goals from Joe Pigott, Dean Rance and Ade Yusuff saw off bottom side Potters Bar Town as former Invicta midfielder Sammy Moore made his return to the Dugout.

Invicta made the trip to Potters Bar for the first time since The Scholars installed their own 3G surface at The Lantern Stadium last season, with Jay Saunders opting to name an unchanged XI from Thursday night’s 3-0 win at Welling United. The only changes to the squad came on the substitutes bench where Ade Yusuff made a return having not featured since our trip to Aveley in September and Ben Mason was back after missing out midweek.

Following a minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday, Potters Bar kicked off the afternoon looking into bright sunshine. Invicta won a couple of early corners that came to nothing before Jake Hutchinson had the first sight of goal in the 15th minute, firing over a cross from Ike Orji.

Invicta’s breakthrough came in the 29th minute, Adam Lovatt driving out of defence with the ball and finding Jake Hutchinson on the right flank with a pass that snuck under the feet of Potters Bar’s debutant defender Malachi Soile. Hutchinson raced clear before picking out the run of Joe Pigott beyond the back post, Invicta’s no. 14 firing home a left footed effort into an empty net.

Hutchinson was released behind Soile again a few minutes later, this time by Mikey Berry, cutting inside and firing an effort off his left foot that Potters Bar goalkeeper Fred Burbidge stopped low at his near post.

On 39 minutes Ike Orji won Invicta a free kick just outside the penalty area, driving in from the right to draw a foul from captain Leigh Rose. Mikey Berry delivered the set piece towards the front post, Dean Rance meeting it with a diving header that left Burbidge with no chance. Having scored twice in his first 62 games for the club, Rance is now on a run of four in four.

Hutchinson was on the end of a cutback from Berry to force a save from Burbidge in the dying seconds of the first half but the sides headed in at the break with Invicta leading 2-0.

The sides traded blows early in the second half with Nana Kyei firing harmlessly over for the hosts and Hutchinson forcing another save from Burbidge from a tight angle. From the resulting corner Berry delivered to the back post but Liam Smith headed over.

As we approached the hour mark Pigott’s eyes lit up as Burbidge came to head clear a ball that dropped straight to the Invicta man but his lofted effort from distance failed to drop under the crossbar. Pigott departed soon after, Josh Strouts on in his place.

Potters Bar’s chance to get themselves back into the match came midway through the second half after Kyei was fouled inside the penalty area. Brandon Adams stepped up to take the penalty kick, but Ted Collins got down to his right to push it away and keep his clean sheet intact.

Saunders sent on Jack Jebb in place of Berry, with the introductions of Ronnie Dolan and Ade Yusuff five minutes later, Rance and Hutchinson departing for a well earned rest. Yusuff was quickly involved as he looked to mark his return to action with a goal, Strouts beating a defender to deliver a low cutback from the byline but Yusuff was unable to keep his first-time effort down.

Yusuff wouldn’t have to wait long to give the fans a reminder of what he does. A high ball on the right bounced off Strouts into the path of Jebb who played a first-time one-two with Yusuff to free him into position to deliver the ball back to the forward who lost defender Ronnie Henry in the penalty area. He fired home with his left foot, his seventh in 10 appearances this season.

Burbidge was forced into simple saves from a Joel-Michael Odeniran header and a strike by Jebb from just outside the penalty area before the referee called time on the afternoon’s proceedings, Invicta securing a second consecutive 3-0 away win to take them top of the Isthmian Premier Division for the first time since January 2020.

Jay Saunders and his side will be looking to retain top spot on Tuesday evening when we welcome Cray Wanderers to the Alcaline Stadium. Tickets and hospitality are on sale now.