Folkestone Invicta returned to winning ways on Saturday as a quick-fire second half double from Amadou Kassaraté and Dan Smith saw off Hendon at the Alcaline Stadium.

Andy Drury and his coaching staff had 2 weeks on the training pitch to prepare for the match, the manager using that time to bed in Khale Da Costa who signed for the club in the run up to Hendon’s visit. With forward Tom Derry beginning a 3-match suspension for his sending off against Billericay Town, Da Costa slotted into the front 3 with Evans Kouassi and Dan Smith while Eze Ebuzoeme returned to the midfield in place of Matt Young who has departed the club.

It was a first half that struggled for action in the penalty areas as Invicta dominated the ball with 73% possession but were limited in shooting opportunities by a dogged a compact Hendon defence. The closest Invicta came to troubling Hendon goalkeeper Luke Campbell, on loan from Chelsea, was a deflected effort from Frankie Morgan that was fumbled behind for a corner just before half time. Dan Smith headed over from the corner and we went in level at the break.

The breakthrough came just over 10 minutes into the second half and from a Hendon free kick. The visitors took it short and went for a diagonal ball in behind Morgan who cut it out, heading the ball down the line for Evans Kouassi who raced away from captain Shaun Lucien before twisting 2 more defenders inside and out and delivering a cross to the back post onto the head of Amadou Kassaraté who headed low at the back post, Campbell getting a lot on it but unable to stop it crossing the goal-line.

Less than 100 seconds later Invicta had the ball in the back of the net again to give us breathing space. A Hendon defender slipped in possession as Kassaraté closed him down. The midfielder raced away with Dan Smith close by, rolling it into the path of Invicta’s number 9 who rolled it into the bottom corner for his 5th goal of the season.

Da Costa’s debut came to an end shortly after the hour mark as he made way for Ellis Brown, while Jack Jebb made his long awaited debut 10 minutes later as he came on for Dan Smith.

The closest Hendon came to a goal was from a corner with 15 minutes to go, a header at the back post forcing a superb save from Jonny Henly to keep the lead at 2-0.

Invicta saw out the afternoon in comfort after that, manager Andy Drury happy with the performance and result to take his side up to 9th in the Isthmian Premier Division table, just 2 points off the playoffs at this early stage.

Winger Evans Kouassi was selected as man of the match by Reggie Spencer for his dazzling footwork as he assisted the opening goal of the afternoon.

Next up for Invicta is Tuesday night’s Kent Senior Cup tie at home to Phoenix Sports before we make our longest Isthmian League journey of the season to visit Chichester City on Saturday.