Folkestone Invicta bounced back from a first league defeat of the season with a 2-1 win over Billericay Town at the Alcaline Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Dean Rance’s second goal in a week midway through the first half was cancelled out by Liam Nash shortly before the hour mark, only for Jake Hutchinson to find the winning goal just three minutes later – his eighth of the season so far.

Jay Saunders opted for two changes to his XI from Tuesday evening, with Ike Orji afforded his first start in black & amber since joining earlier in the month and Adam Lovatt making his debut following a midweek switch from Hashtag United.

Invicta kicked off the afternoon in bright sunshine, attacking the West end of the Alcaline Stadium and had the ball in the net after just six minutes, only for it to be ruled out. Jake Hutchinson appeared to have fairly beaten both defender Matt Johnson and goalkeeper Sam Donkin to the ball, poking it beyond the keeper before rolling it into an empty net – but the ball had struck the Invicta forward’s arm as he controlled it.

The first real sight of goal of the afternoon fell to Joe Pigott after Ben Mason had done well to prevent a pass through the Billericay defence going out of play, Donell Thomas squaring for Invicta’s 14 who saw his effort blocked a point blank range.

Invicta took the corner short to Pigott who played it deep to Orji, the defender delivering a long ball back into Pigott who nodded it into a dangerous area where Rance managed to get a boot high enough to turn the ball beyond Donkin to give Invicta the lead.

Frankie Merrifield headed well over the crossbar on the half hour mark and Johnson headed a corner wide in the final minute of the first half before Elliot Long forced a first save from Ted Collins with a low effort at the near post from outside the penalty area in injury time.

The sun had disappeared as Billericay kicked off the second half, Invicta making a change at half time with goalscorer Rance replaced by Ronnie Dolan.

Billericay’s Tyrell Miller-Rodney was the first name into the book seven minutes after the restart, scything down Donell Thomas as the Invicta man broke with the ball in front of the away dugout.

Hutchinson miscued an effort at the front post and Thomas fired into the side netting from a tight angle as Invicta looked to give themselves breathing space but failure to test Donkin was punished shortly before the hour mark – Frankie Merrifield found Liam Nash inside the Invicta penalty area to bury an equaliser for the visitors.

Invicta’s response came less than 90 seconds after the restart. Liam Smith found Ike Orji with a pass down the right flank, the wingback turning Billericay’s Jay Porter and racing away to deliver a perfect ball to find Hutchinson eight yards out at the front post, the forward rising to glance a header inside the far post and restore Invicta’s lead.

Orji was Invicta’s first player to be booked for a late tackle before Hamza Semakula joined Miller-Rodney after pulling down Thomas who had stolen the ball from him as he was breaking through on goal.

The heavens opened for the final quarter of an hour with most of the 1,295 in attendance quickly heading for shelter – although some braved the elements behind the goal at the cricket ground end of the stadium.

Orji was closed down as he shot from the edge of the penalty area, his effort bobbling harmlessly through to Donkin before Johnson fired straight at Collins from distance at the other end. Lovatt went close to marking his debut with a goal as he took aim from nearly 30 yards out, his effort thundering inches over the crossbar into those still behind the goal.

Tyrese Owen forced another simple save from Collins with an effort from distance but in the increasingly difficult conditions neither side could find a way to add to the scoring before the afternoon was brought to an end.

Match-winner Jake Hutchinson was selected as Player of the Match by our match sponsors Landau Store who operate our on-site matchday shop, stocking the full range of club merchandise.

Invicta turn attentions to back-to-back away fixtures this week as we head to Welling United on Tuesday evening followed by Potters Bar Town on Saturday. Supporters’ travel is available to book for both fixtures. Click here to book your seat now.