Invicta romped to their biggest win of the season and went three points clear of Staines in the final play-off place at the top of Bostik League Premier Division at the sunblessed Fullicks Stadium on Saturday.
And while tenth in the table Leiston might argue after inflicting only the second defeat of the season on leaders Billericay Town, for anyone south of The Thames, other than in Margate, Folkestone’s convincing victory was surely the result of the day in this division.
Back in the starting line-up after injury, Ade Yusuff took the game to the visitors from the start and it was a challenge on Folkestone’s leading scorer by Jake Bales that saw referee Matt Goldsmith pointing to the spot and Yusuff slammed his 20th Bostik League goal and 23rd of the season past Romney Marsh bred Wingate keeper Shane Gore to put the home side after 24 minutes.
Invicta defender Josh Vincent had picked up an early yellow card, Bales got one for his protests at what seemed the harsh penalty decision, and more crucially in the long run, big Wingate skipper and centre back Sean Cronin was not surprisingly cautioned for hacking down Jerald Aboagye when Folkestone’s recent signing was in full flght down the right.
The visitors huffed and puffed but rarely threatened Tim Roberts’ goal but it was not until just before the hour that Invicta went further ahead when the excellent Ian Draycott latched onto a Finchley clearance on halfway and fed a superb fall for Johan Ter Horst to run through to coolly beat Gore tightening the home side’s grip on this crucial game.
Keith Rowland’s men put together a couple of worthwhile moves but never seriously tested keeper Roberts or his defence led by skipper Callum Davies.
Wingate had ended a terrific eight game winning run for Neil Cugley’s side back in December, but their hopes of retrieving anything here disappeared soon after Cronin received a second yellow card and with it his marching orders 18 minutes from time.
That was the signal for Folkestone to run riot and seven minutes later Ter Horst was sent through for his goal of the game – the third time he has scored twice for the club this season, and the second time in as many weeks since rejoining Invicta from Maidstone United.
Substitutes Joe Taylor and Tom Walmsley soon joined in the fun, Taylor – Folkestone’s matchwinner when they beat Wingate 1-0 on their first ever visit to the Fullicks Stadium just under a year ago – making it 4-0 from close range five minutes from time.
And there was a dream cameo debut from teenager Walmsley when he climbed high to meet a cross from Ronnie Dolan and complete the scoring with a splendid stoppage time header that flew into the top corner.
It’s the league leaders next for Folkestone when Billericay’s much vaunted outfit visit the Fullicks on Wednesday.
And mega-rich owner/assistant manager Glenn Tamplin’s mega busy side will have already played again by that time when they take on unpredictable but always awkward Corinthian Casuals in the semi-finals of the league cup at New Lodge tomorrow, Monday.
Invicta: Roberts; Vincent, Davies, Newman, Blanks; Aboagye, Draycott (Madden 88), Dolan, McCann; Yusuff (Taylor 81), Ter Horst (Walmsley 86)
Sub not used: Shaw
Referee: Matt Goldsmith (Hastings)
Attendance: 446