Folkestone Invicta picked up a first win over Welling United in 24 years on Tuesday night as Dean Rance, Mikey Berry and Joe Pigott struck at Park View Road.

Jay Saunders opted for two changes from the side which had beaten Billericay Town 2-1 at the Alcaline Stadium on Saturday, with Donell Thomas and Ben Mason dropping out to be replaced by Montel McKenzie and Mikey Berry.

Invicta opted to attack up the slope in the first half and Montel McKenzie took aim for the first time after just three minutes but fired over into the travelling supporters taking up their positions behind the goal.

Winger John Ufuah gave Invicta an early scare after beating his man to get to the byline, cutting a low ball across goal that Ted Collins parried to prevent it being turned home at the back post.

Dean Rance broke the deadlock for Invicta with his third goal in three games in the 17th minute. As Mikey Berry delivered a corner from the left, everybody in a red shirt appeared to have switched off with Rance gifted the freedom of the Welling penalty area to head the ball at the back post, looping it over a crowd and into the top corner of Welling goalkeeper Damian Niemczycki’s goal.

Jake Hutchinson fired low across the face of goal shortly after the restart, then into the arms of Niemczycki at his near post a few minutes later as Invicta’s top scorer looked to add to his tally for the season.

Welling were forced into a substitution on the half hour mark before former Invicta midfielder Eze Ebuzoeme saw an effort from distance deflected for a corner, but Invicta defended it without trouble.

Ike Orji delivered a low cross that Berry set for Pigott who saw a shot blocked before firing a second effort narrowly over the crossbar.

With a few minutes remaining in the half Welling were forced to make a second change and Invicta came close to adding a second goal. Joel-Michael Odeniran delivered a cross from the left, Rance nipping in front of his defender to get a touch but couldn’t turn it on target from close range.

The final kick of the half, in three added minutes, fell to Hutchinson who received a pass from Pigott inside the Welling penalty area but struck a side foot effort just wide of the near post.

Welling started the second half brightly without testing Collins but Invicta came close to doubling their advantage eight minutes after the restart when an Orji cross from the right fell into the path of Rance who saw his effort from eight yards blocked on the line.

The closest Welling came to breaching Invicta’s defence came on the stroke of an hour, Leo Young striking a volley from the edge of the penalty area that drew a good save from Collins to maintain Invicta’s lead. Invicta immediately went down the other end and saw efforts from McKenzie and Adam Lovatt blocked in a scramble before Welling could clear the ball.

Invicta finally found breathing space with 20 minutes remaining. Orji was fouled on the right but the ball ran to substitute Josh Strouts who beat his full back to deliver a cross to the back post where Mikey Berry met is with a header from a tight angle, the ball bouncing awkwardly on the pitch to beat the defender on the goal-line and double Invicta’s advantage.

Berry was replaced by Ronnie Dolan who quickly found himself presented with a golden chance to kill the game off as Invicta countered quickly, Hutchinson pulling the ball back to Dolan in the middle of the penalty area. The midfielder took a touch to beat an incoming challenge before taking aim, Niemczycki however was able to get just enough on the shot to turn it over the crossbar.

Welling’s relief lasted only second. Dolan delivered the resulting corner, Niemczycki getting a touch but only able to turn it onto the head of Kevin Lokko who returned it across the face of goal where Pigott turned it home from six yards.

Invicta nearly added to the scoring with the final kick off the game, a Jack Jebb corner eventually claimed by Niemczycki at Lokko and Hutchinson tried to finish from close range.

Invicta stay second with the win, closing the gap on leaders Brentwood Town to two points with two games in hand.

Next up for Invicta is a trip to Potters Bar Town on Saturday, our first visit to The Lantern Stadium in two years. Seats on our supporters’ coach are available to book online. Click here to book.