Manager Jay Saunders was happy with his side’s second half showing as forwards Ade Yusuff and Josh Strouts scored their first goals of the season to secure three points in Essex.

Invicta travelled to Essex without long-term absentees Jeremy Santos and Ollie Black. Ben Mason remained unavailable with an injury picked up against Dover in pre-season while Dean Rance and Jack Jebb both missed out with injures picked up earlier in the week.

Having added forward Kweku Lucan ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Cray Wanderers, Jay Saunders secured the loan signing of Ebbsfleet United midfielder Maxx Manktelow, joining Invicta on a one-month deal.

Manktelow went straight into the starting XI, as Saunders changed his system to a back four. Mikey Berry and Lucan also made their first starts, having both come from the bench at Cray Wanderers.

Invicta attacked the large terrace at the north end of the Steve’s Taxis Stadium in the first half and Donell Thomas was the first to threaten it inside three minutes with an effort just wide from 20 yards.

Invicta goalkeeper Ted Collins was called into action for the first time in the 11th minute with a simple catch from a header, Invicta went down the other end and Lucan struck an effort straight at Canvey’s Lewis Greene from distance.

Captain Kevin Lokko blocked an effort wide for a corner in the 21st minute. Invicta cleared to Berry who lifted a pass in behind for Thomas to race onto. The Invicta forward did well to stay on his feet while being held by Canvey’s Elliott Johnson but Greene made himself big and stopped the shot on goal with his chest.

Liam Smith headed wide from a free kick in injury time before the sides headed in goalless at the break.

Invicta came out early in the second half with Thomas stinging the palms of Greene with a low effort from distance before Lokko headed into the keeper’s arms from the resulting corner.

Saunders made a change early in the second half with Brad Walledge on in place of Jake Hutchinson, and just a minute later Invicta had the breakthrough. Kweku Lucan beat two defenders to a bouncing ball, heading it into space for him to chase. The winger, who scored on his debut on Tuesday evening, pulled the ball across the face of goal for Ade Yusuff to finish from close range at the back post, the forward opening his account for the season.

Ade Yusuff soon made way for Josh Strouts to lead the line and the substitute killed off the game with 18 minutes remaining. Lucan received a long pass just inside the Canvey half, laying the ball off to Thomas to race away for a near mirror or the first goal, as Thomas entered the penalty area and squared to Strouts to finish into an empty net for his first Invicta goal.

Strouts looked for his second soon after with a strike from 25 yards that was straight at Greene before Montel McKenzie forced a save from slightly further out.

Dillon Simmons made his debut in the closing minutes and almost made an instant impact, racing away on the counter attack onto a pass from Berry. The young defender cut onto his right foot but saw his effort blocked by Canvey’s Kwabena Yeboah.

The 2-0 victory is Invicta’s fourth consecutive win over The Gulls, and sees us end the opening week of the 2025/26 season unbeaten with five points in ninth place in the fledgling Isthmian Premier Division.

Invicta now turn attentions to our first “home” fixture of the season on Saturday when we welcome St Albans City to Margate’s Hartsdown Park. Tickets are on sale now.