Folkestone Invicta emerged victorious from Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Brentwood Town, Ade Yusuff winning and scoring a penalty within three minutes of coming on as a second half substitute to send Jay Saunders’ side nine points clear at the top of the Isthmian Premier Division.

2024/25 Isthmian North Division winners, Brentwood, made their first ever visit to Cheriton Road, led by former Northern Ireland, West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers defender Keith Rowland who made a single appearance for Invicta in 2006.

Invicta went into the fixture missing both defenders Montel McKenzie and Joel-Michael Odeniran who had accrued suspensions having picked up bookings against Wingate & Finchley and Chichester City respectively but were boosted by the addition of Sam German who joins on a one-month loan deal from EFL League Two side Bromley. Ronnie Dolan, fresh from picking up November’s Goal of the Month award, came into the midfield in place of Dean Rance while the potent partnership of Jake Hutchinson and Joe Pigott – with 23 goals in 14 games – spearheaded the attack.

The season-best crowd of 1,453 had to wait less than a minute after kick off for the drama to begin as Ted Collins raced from his penalty area to head clear a long pass, taking a kick to the head from Brentwood’s top scorer Daniel Ogunleye who was shown his first yellow card of the afternoon.

Adam Lovatt, November’s Player of the Month, forced the first save of the afternoon after 12 minutes, taking aim from 25 yards, forcing Brentwood keeper Melvin Minter to push his effort over the crossbar.

With Invicta seeing most of the ball in the early stages, top scorer Hutchinson had his first sight of goal as he beat the offside trap to race onto a Mikey Berry through ball, rolling his effort under Minter but against the outside of the post. Hutchinson went closer a few minutes later, a long pass from Liam Smith floating just over the head of Pigott, Invicta’s no. 9 racing behind the defence and beating Minter to it on the edge of the penalty area. Hutchinson’s touch took him around the keeper but wide enough to allow Brentwood captain Matt Cripps to cover on the goal-line.

Adam Lovatt and Ben Mason joined Ogunleye in the referee’s notebook for late challenges as Invicta continued to dominate possession and territory but remained frustrated by the opposition, who had their first sight of goal five minutes before half time when Kymani Thomas cut inside from the left and fired narrowly over Collins’ crossbar. A minute later midfielder Charlie Edwards headed harmlessly wide from nine yards just a minute later, Ted Collins ending the first half untested.

Having gone in at half time goalless for the third consecutive game, Invicta came out looking to change that quickly after the break. Mikey Berry fired well wide from outside the box straight after the restart to spark a flurry of chances. Joe Pigott was next to go close, rising highest at the back post to head an Ike Orji cross against the woodwork. Hutchinson was unable to turn the rebound home from close range. Hutchinson then carried the ball from just inside the Brentwood half to fire on goal from 25 yards and force a low stop from Minter. Hutchinson was in the right place to collect a loose ball after a Minter clearance struck Berry and popped up to the forward with the Brentwood keeper stranded, but with two defenders in his way Hutchinson was unable to find the bottom corner from 20 yards.

A Brentwood corner eventually led to Thomas firing an effort from distance out of the ground before Invicta worked one of their own to Lovatt who this time beat Minter from the edge of the penalty area, only for it to strike the base of the post. Those on the packed open terrace behind the goal could have been forgiven for thinking this was going to be “one of those days”.

Pigott and Berry both failed to hit the target from distance, before Berry followed up with another effort narrowly wide from inside the penalty area. Minter earned himself a booking on the hour mark for time wasting before Edwards responded at the other end with an effort that nearly joined Thomas’ earlier strike on the roof of the stand.

As Collins prepared to take his goal kick, Saunders turned to his bench for the first time, introducing Ade Yusuff for Hutchinson. It took just 72 seconds for the substitute to make an impact. A long throw from the right failed to create a shot on goal but Yusuff collected the ball beyond the far post where he took on Ogunleye and drove back into the penalty area. The Brentwood forward brought him down and the referee pointed to the spot before issuing Ogunleye with his second yellow card of the afternoon but oddly not following it by sending him for an early bath. After a delay, Yusuff placed the ball on the spot and fired it to Minter’s left, the keeper getting a finger or two to it but unable to prevent it hitting the inside of the net.

Still on the pitch, Ogunleye forced Collins into his first save of the afternoon a few minutes later with an effort from the edge of the penalty area straight at the Invicta keeper.

Jack Jebb replaced Berry in midfield and was immediately into the action, delivering a free kick and a series of corners as Invicta piled on the pressure looking for a second. A long throw then found Kevin Lokko who headed into the arms of Minter to give Brentwood some relief. Jebb freed Mason on the left, the wing-back unleashing an effort that forced a save from Minter high to his left.

As time ticked away, former Invicta midfielder Ade Cole fired tamely into the arms of Collins from long range. As we entered six minutes of added time a Jebb free kick from the centre circle found the head of Yusuff who then found Lokko – but the Invicta captain was unable to keep his own header under the crossbar.

Seconds shy of 100 minutes of action, the referee called the afternoon to a close, Invicta securing an eighth consecutive league win to open up the nine-point gap over Brentwood with a game in hand.

Midfielder Mikey Berry was awarded Player of the Match by our match sponsors The Invicta Meldrews. We wish to thank the Meldrews for their long, continued support of the club.

Post-match, manager Jay Saunders reiterated that he and his team continue to take things one game at a time, with a trip to last season’s beaten play-off finalists Dartford now on the horizon. Please note there will not be a supporters’ coach running for this fixture, but we look forward to seeing plenty of our travelling supporters at Princes Park for this Kent Derby.