Two first half goals and their first clean sheet in the league since mid-October saw Folkestone complete a highly successful season’s visits to Suffolk on Tuesday night.
And these three eventually hard earned points took them back to third in the Ryman Premier Division.
After scavenging only one point out of 12 on four visits to Suffolk in 2016/17 in the last campaign – this season’s three league games in that part of the world have resulted in two wins and a draw (plus a drawn FA Trophy tie at Leiston).
Invicta made a dream start at the Amber Dew Stadium when they went ahead in the second minute of Tuesday’s lively Bostik Premier Division game against Lowestoft.
It was Ian Draycott whose fine finish from 20 yards flew past keeper Ben Dudzinski into the top corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors with just two minutes on the clock.
The visitors kept up their pressure with Sam Hasler firing over and then Joe Taylor hit the post, still inside the first quarter hour.
The Trawlermen started to come more into the game, and had the ball in the net through Harvey Hodd but his effort was ruled out for offside.
And it was Taylor who extended Folkestone’s lead ten minutes before the break as more good work from Draycott saw defender Finn O’Mara diving to head the ball back across the face of goal and the recalled striker nodded in from close range.
Folkestone had dominated the first period but needed an outstanding save from Tim Roberts to deny Town skipper Rossi Jarvis following an excellent ball into the area by Jack Zielonka before Neil Cugley’s side could take their two goal lead into the warmth of the dressing room at the break.
The back to form Draycott curled a fine effort just wide of the post eight minutes into the second period.
They had to expect some sort of rally from the Trawlerboys but defended well when needed with keeper Roberts doing everything that could have been asked as his side headed towards their first shut-out in 18 league games, since the 1-0 victory at Tooting & Mitcham on October 24th.
And just minutes after coming on, substitute Cruise Nyadzayo completed a miserable night for the home side when he received a straight red card from referee Byrne after headbutting O’Mara who was booked for retaliation.
Folkestone now have 52 points – only three less than they achieved in the whole of last season – thanks in no small way to a far more respectable away record this time around.
Invicta: Roberts; Vincent, O’Mara, Everitt, Davies, Newman, Hasler, Heard, Draycott, Yusuff, Taylor
Subs: Wright, Cooper, Shaw
Referee: George Byrne
Attendance: 226