Invicta clicked easily into gear to continue their improving home form with this comfortable and enjoyable victory over a useful Merstham side who have caused them the odd problem or two at times in the past.
Three goals ahead after only 15 minutes, the home side seemed well on their way to a big win and despite seeing The Moatsiders reduce the deficit to 3-2 but hat-trick hero Ian Draycott quickly restored Folkestone’s two goal advantage and scored again within two minutes of the second half restart to make the result virtually certain.
Two-goal Alfie Paxman and the also very much on song Kieron McCann were also on target in a win that takes Folkestone up to 13th in the Bostik Premier Division table.
Draycott had opened the scoring with a deflected shot from just inside the penalty box on eight minutes and Paxman doubled the lead on 10 minutes.
And the always dangerous McCann ended his personal dry streak with a decisive finish past hapless keeper Amadou Tangara on the quarter hour after his initial effort crashed back to him off the crossbar.
A free kick by Tim Bird and a second goal from fellow defender Gus Sow suggested that the visitors might get back into the contest, but Draycott made it 4-2 within seconds and his third goal from a free-kick less than three minutes into the second period completed his first Premier Division hat-trick.
The outstanding Paxman completed this rain-drenched rout in stoppage time.
So that’s six wins and a draw for Invicta in their last 10 games – one of the three defeats coming away to higher league Woking in the FA Trophy seven days earlier.
Just a pity that there weren’t a few more than the 318 paying customers there to share in the fun on an admittedly weather-wise depressing afternoon.
Invicta: Roberts; Starkey, Blanks, O’Mara, Davies, Paxman, Neman, Everitt, Draycott, Yusuff, McCann
Subs used: Rowland, Heard, Madden.
Not used: Shaw
Referee: Christopher Myatt
Attendance: 318