Folkestone Invicta made it seven straight wins, and a perfect November, as second half goals from Jake Hutchinson, Joe Pigott and Ronnie Dolan saw off Chichester City at the Alcaline Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Jay Saunders was able to name a completed unchanged starting XI and substitutes from the side that picked up three points with a late 1-0 win at Wingate & Finchley on Tuesday night.

Chichester kicked us off but it was Invicta making the early running, Montel McKenzie forcing Kieran Magee into action with a cross/shot before Joe Pigott and Jake Hutchinson both worked much better shooting opportunities inside the opening ten minutes.

Mikey Berry found Pigott with a cutback after 15 minutes, the forward’s effort well blocked. The first corner was turned behind by a defender, the second nearly falling to Tuesday’s match-winner Joel-Michael Odeniran at the back post but smothered by Magee before a third corner was eventually clear for a throw that Invicta worked into a chance for Dean Rance to shoot from distance, but his effort never troubled the keeper.

The visitors threatened for the first time midway through the half but Misha Djemaili could only muster a blocked effort from the middle of the penalty area. Minutes later Isaac Bello was released down the right side, cutting the ball back to the edge of the penalty area into the path of Lloyd Rowlatt but for an intervention from Rance. The ball returned to Bello who forced Ted Collins into a simple stop at his near post.

A Chichester counter attack ended with Bello firing an effort off target onto the terrace behind as Invicta’s early momentum appeared to have gone. But it was Pigott who received the best chance of the half to open the scoring five minutes before the break, on the end of a cross from Ike Orji at the back post, but his cushioned volley narrowly missed the bottom corner with Magee rooted to the spot.

Invicta began the second half in the ascendancy once more but calls for a penalty for a foul on Kevin Lokko as he tried to attack a free kick from Berry went unanswered. The first effort of the half fell to Adam Lovatt ten minutes after the restart, the midfielder shooting wide from 20 yards.

Half the ground – including the scoreboard operator – thought Invicta had taken the lead just after the hour mark after Odeniran found Hutchinson with a long pass in behind the Chichester defence but Invicta’s top goalscorer only managed to find the outside of the net with his strike from an angle. The visitors failed to heed their warning however, as a minute later, Collins cleared the ball from just outside his own penalty area and the Chichester defence allowed it to bounce into the path of Hutchinson who was not to pass up on a second gift, going one on one with Magee and sitting the keeper down as he fired past him to break Chichester’s resistance.

Ted Collins was straight back into the action within a minute of the restart, this time with his gloves. Chichester went on the attack down their left, a ball into the box finding Miles Obodo on the six yard line but Collins’ reactions were sharp enough to get down to his left and deny the loanee a debut goal.

Invicta were looking to add a second, Pigott finding Hutchinson at the back post with a low cross, but under pressure from a challenge, Invicta’s no. 9 fired over. The referee awarded Invicta a corner despite Hutchinson’s effort looking to have missed the target of its own accord, then booked Magee for his protests.

The sides traded blows in search of the afternoon’s second goal but a wayward Chichester cross that Collins took comfortably was the most action either goalkeeper saw until we reached the 80th minute. Donell Thomas, a replacement for Berry, collected the ball in the middle of the pitch and broke quickly, heading to the left flank where he delivered the ball into the penalty area where fellow substitute Ade Yusuff was unable to get the telling touch but Pigott came in behind at the back post, firing back across Magee from a tight angle to put breathing space between the sides.

The afternoon was heading towards conclusion when Djemaili headed over from a corner just as the board went up for five added minutes. Collins goal kick found Yusuff, Thomas found Josh Strouts who played the ball infield to Ronnie Dolan who, with the freedom of the Chichester half, took aim from over 30 yards. Magee stood no chance as the ball flew beyond him into the top corner, Invicta’s 26th goal of November may just have stolen the goal of the month award at the death.

Yusuff, searching for his first goal since he returned from injury earlier in the month, fired wide from the edge of the penalty area with the final kick of the game but the 3-0 scoreline was more than enough to put a six-point gap between Invicta and the chasing pack, with Brentwood having drawn 3-3 against Aveley on Friday evening and Chatham falling to defeat against St Albans City on Saturday afternoon.

Having led the defence to a second clean sheet of the week, captain Kevin Lokko was selected as Player of the Match by our match sponsors BDG Plumbing.

Next up for Invicta is the battle of the top two when we welcome Brentwood Town on Saturday 6th December. With a big crowd expected, supporters are advised to purchase match tickets in advance. Click here to buy online now.