Folkestone Invicta maintained their grip on the top of the Isthmian Premier Division with a biggest league victory since Boxing Day 2011 – 8-0 against Hythe Town – both Ben Mason and Jake Hutchinson taking home a match ball on a remarkable evening at the Alcaline Stadium.

Jay Saunders opted for a single change from the side that beat Potters Bar Town 3-0 on Saturday, with Ben Mason returning to the starting lineup in place of Montel McKenzie.

Invicta’s black & amber shirts carried poppies on their chests as the sides took to the pitch to observe a minute’s silence for Armistice Day ahead of kick off.

Despite travel issues that disrupted the arrival of a number of the visiting players, Cray Wanderers started the evening brightly, putting Invicta under pressure with early corners in front of the Cricket Ground End terrace.

Invicta found the breakthrough with the first of three goals in five minutes through top scorer Jake Hutchinson. Former Wanderers man Ike Orji cut inside former Invicta defender Frankie Morgan before firing off a left-footed effort from distance that looked a routine save for the visiting goalkeeper, only for him to spill the ball into the path of Hutchinson who tapped home from close range.

The visitors barely had time to regain their breath and it was 2-0. Ben Mason collected the ball on the left flank and played a one-two with Joe Pigott before unleashing an effort from the edge of the penalty area that flew into the far top corner, this time leaving young stopper Ethan Binnie with no hope of keeping it out.

Pigott headed clear a dangerous corner at the other end before he quickly turned provider for Invicta’s third. The Wands failed to clear an Orji cross, with Pigott bringing down a high ball on the edge of the penalty area and poking it into Mason who turned and rolled his second of the evening into the bottom corner. Just four minutes and 56 seconds after taking the lead, Invicta were 3-0 up as a party atmosphere began to envelop (most of) the 1,131 in attendance.

Orji dragged an effort wide of the post and Berry forced another save that Binnie again spilled towards Hutchinson, this time reacting quickest to prevent a repeat of the opening goal as Invicta sensed blood and were looking to kill the game off before half time.

Approaching the half hour mark Invicta were awarded a free kick ten yards inside the Wanderers half. Mikey Berry delivered a long ball into the penalty area, Liam Smith winning the first header and Kevin Lokko the first to react to lay the ball off to Pigott who drilled a low effort beyond Binnie into the bottom corner.

The visitors stirred hopes of an unlikely comeback just after the half hour mark when Invicta failed to clear a corner that fell to Quade Taylor who scooped the ball into the roof of the net.

Invicta now looking for a fifth goal to kill off the match, Joel-Michael Odeniran and Lokko forced saves from Binnie as Mikey Berry put Cray under pressure with a series of corners. Pigott linked with Orji to see a shot blocked by Remi Sutton as Invicta camped inside the Wanderers half.

With the half time interval creeping nearer, Invicta found the fifth as Mason wrapped up his hat-trick. Orji collected a pass from Hutchinson on the edge of the penalty area, driving along the white line as he avoided challenges from Taylor and Prosper Keto before poking the ball into the feet of Mason who took a touch with his right before lashing inside Binnie’s near post with his left – a first Invicta hat-trick since Ade Yusuff against Canvey Island in January.

Deep into four added minutes, Nodirbek Bobomurodov brought down Orji as he drove at the Cray defence and was the first name into the referee’s notebook. Pigott fired the free kick over the crossbar and the sides headed in for the break.

Wanderers manager Tim O’Shea reacted by bringing on all four of his available substitutes for the start of the second half, but just 86 seconds later Invicta had a sixth. A pack of Invicta players – Mason, Berry and Hutchinson – won the ball high on the left flank and worked possession for the latter to deliver a cross to Pigott who chested it down and fired his second into the bottom corner, before a blue shirt got anywhere near him. Pigott’s double takes him to ten for the season in all competitions.

Half time introduction Josh Williams looked a threat, forcing three saves from Collins as he looked to give the visiting fans behind the goal something to cheer about.

Invicta’s first change saw Jack Jebb replace Berry. His first action was to deliver a free kick headed out for a goal kick by Lokko. Cray played the ball out from the back but gave it Invicta, Mason picking out Hutchinson in acres of space between the Wanderers defence with enough time to set himself a roll a first-time effort under Binnie to make it 7-1.

Invicta were gifted possession again a few minutes later, working the ball to Mason for a chance to score his fourth but he was denied by the legs of Binnie.

Invicta sent on Ronnie Dolan, Josh Strouts, Ade Yusuff and Montel McKenzie as Saunders looked to rest legs in the middle of a busy fixture period. Strouts bent an effort narrowly wide and Hutchinson was first to a low cross from Orji but his first time shot missed the bottom corner. At the other end, Chris Dickson failed to test Ted Collins with an effort from the edge of the penalty area.

With Mason now sat on the bench and eying up his match ball, Hutchinson secured his own with seven minutes remaining. McKenzie delivered a cross to the penalty spot, Hutchinson unable to get a touch to it but Strouts collected the ball at the back post and returned it to him to finish into an empty net from six yards – Hutchinson’s 11th strike of the season.

Williams forced another save from Collins and delivered a cross that Dickson headed onto the roof of the net in added time before referee Simon Cutler put an end to The Wands suffering.

Ben Mason took the Player of the Match award to go with his matchball, the defender’s hat-trick taking his tally for the season to six in all competitions.

Invicta take a break from league action on Saturday when we welcome National League South side AFC Totton to the Alcaline Stadium in the FA Trophy. Tickets and hospitality are on sale now. Please remember that season tickets are not valid for this fixture.