An Ade Yusuff double and Josh Strouts’ first goal in black and amber lead Invicta to a 4-0 victory over SCEFL champions Faversham Town on a sweltering Saturday afternoon.

It was a first outing for the partnership of Yusuff and Strouts, in a starting XI featuring four trialists, with Ronnie Dolan named on the Invicta team sheet for the first time since putting pen to paper earlier in the week.

A fast-pace opening to the afternoon was broken up by Faversham goalkeeper Jacob Russell twice receiving treatment before departing after just 15 minutes. With no other goalkeeper on the bench, Russell had to be replaced by midfielder Harrison Pont.

Strouts headed over from a Ronnie Dolan free kick shortly after the restart, Pont then forced into his first save from a trialist header to tip it just over the crossbar. Kevin Lokko headed wide from the resulting corner.

Shortly after a first half drinks break, Invicta took the lead. Dolan fed a perfectly weighted pass down the right side behind the Faversham defence, Strouts out-pacing his defender before firing him at the near post from a tight angle.

Invicta had the ball in the net shortly before half time directly from a throw in, but wouldn’t have to wait much longer to add to the scoring. Following a throw high on the right side, Brad Walledge and Dolan worked a crossing opportunity for the former, the ball into the box narrowly evading both Strouts and Pont only to be met by Ade Yusuff who couldn’t miss the open goal from a yard out.

Jeremy Santos, Jake Hutchinson and Liam Smith were introduced at half time. Santos and Yusuff both forced good saves from Pont early in the second half before Smith added Invicta’s third, heading home from a long throw.

Halfway through the second period Invicta were awarded a penalty after a foul on Walledge by George Monger. Yusuff stepped up to send Pont the wrong way and score his second of the afternoon.

The final quarter of the game was stop-start – a number of changes from both sides, an injury to Faversham’s Frannie Collin and another drinks break hampering either side from gaining any momentum, although Invicta’s trialist goalkeeper was forced into a good save by Faversham winger Michael Ademiluyi.

Invcta’s pre-season  continues on Tuesday evening with a trip to Ashford United’s Green Box Stadium.