Folkestone Invicta dug deep to secure a sixth straight win against a determined Wingate & Finchley side, defender Joel-Michael Odeniran heading home a Jack Jebb corner inside the final five minutes to open up a four-point gap over second-place Brentwood Town.

After a three-hour journey amid travel chaos, travelling supporters arrived at the Maurice Rebak Stadium to find a team with two chances from Saturday’s win at Cheshunt. Defender Liam Smith dropped out of the squad having picked up a knock, to be replaced by Ben Mason and Dean Rance returned the the XI in place of Ronnie Dolan who dropped to the bench.

On a bitterly cold evening, neither goalkeeper had much to warm their hands in the opening stages of the game as both sides struggled to create clear cut openings to get shots off on goal. The first player to get a hand to the ball was Wingate & Finchley defender Charlie Stallard as a back-heeled effort from Adam Lovatt midway through the half struck his left hand that was deemed to be in a natural position by the officials who ignored the cries for a penalty. Odeniran forced the first save of the afternoon seconds later, a Ben Mason cross from the right cleared to the edge of the box for the Invicta defender to strike at goal, keeper Jamie Grossart down well to make the stop.

Invicta continued to make the play while Wingate looked dangerous on the counter, no more so than 10 minutes from half time when Caoilan McGettigan picked up the ball and ran at the Invicta defence, the tricky forward getting himself enough space to shoot inside the penalty area only to rifle his effort against the crossbar.

Invicta’s front two of Hutchinson and Pigott combined to release Mikey Berry as we entered added time, the midfielder forcing Grossart into a save from the edge of the penalty area but the sides headed down the tunnel with the score goalless at the break.

Berry did not return for the start of the second half, Jebb replacing him in midfield before Wingate & Finchley kicked us off, taking two attempts to do so after the referee pulled back the first. Jebb was straight into the action as he took aim from distance with volley that went harmlessly wide. Joe Pigott got off his first effort of the evening as he chested the ball down on the edge of the penalty area and fired goal bound just seconds later, Invicta starting the second half with a higher intensity.

Jebb first corner of the evening saw Ben Mason have a shot blocked, Wingate quickly countered until McGettigan was brought down by a touch from McKenzie who was the first name into the book for the evening.

Pigott forced Grossart into another good stop from 25 yards 10 minutes into the second half, Hutchinson the quickest to react to reach the loose ball only to find the offside flag up – although he was yards onside. Hutchinson then saw his evening brought to an end as Invicta introduced Ade Yusuff for the final half hour, with Josh Strouts then replacing McKenzie as Saunders looked to find a breakthrough.

Jebb ran in behind to receive a high pass into the penalty area, his volley from an angle forcing a save at the near post just moments before the hosts created the clearest chance of the evening. Substitute Casey Shann received the ball in space on the left and cut inside to shoot, his effort blocked by Invicta captain Kevin Lokko fell to Gianluca Botti who miscued an initial touch which allowed Ted Collins to recover and make himself big to smother the Italian’s first shot, quickly followed by a second before Invicta cleared the ball.

With the clock ticking down towards what would be a first goalless draw for Invicta since Boxing Day, Mason delivered a low cross that looked destined for Ade Yusuff until a defender’s touch took it behind for a corner. Jebb trotted out to the left to deliver a perfect ball to the back post where Joel-Michael Odeniran rose highest to head down beyond Grossart, finally breaking Wingate & Finchley resistance.

A sixth straight league victory for Invicta lifts Jay Saunders’ side four points clear of chasing Brentwood Town, with a first ever meeting between the sides on the horizon as the Essex side prepare to visit the Alcaline Stadium on Saturday 6th December. Tickets for that, plus Saturday’s clash with Chichester City, are on sale now.