Folkestone Invicta 4-1 Horsham

Folkestone Invicta gave their supporters an early Christmas present as they recorded their biggest win of the season so far at a cold Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Invicta recovered from an early injury to goalkeeper Charlie Mitten to race into a 3-0 lead by the half hour mark thanks to goals from Mark Saunders, Charlie Glyde and Richard Shittu.

Horsham had been broadcast live on Sky in their Monday night F. A. Cup replay away to Swansea, but were brought right back down to earth as Neil Cugley's side enjoyed only their second home league win of the season so far to bring some festive cheer to their long-suffering faithful.

Mark Saunders has been missed during his recent injury absence and the player-coach marked his return by opening the scoring with a well-placed 17 th minute header after Kevin Watson had played the ball in from the right.

And GLYDE made it 2-0 two minutes later with his first goal for the club when the ball fell to him inside the penalty area after a throw in from the right.

It got better for Invicta after 29 minutes when new striker SHITTU scored his second goal in consecutive matches when he was there to follow up and score in off the far post when Horsham goalkeeper Paul Seuke saved but could not hold another Glyde shot.

Glyde and Shittu had made their debuts in Invicta's 4-0 home horror show defeat against Hendon when not really have the chance to impress, but both had played well at Hornchurch last weekend and both were on the scoresheet here.

Invicta have also looked a better side since the return from injury of striker Leigh Bremner and there are encouraging signs of a partnership developing between him and Shittu.

Shittu had signalled his intent as early as the third minute when he fired over from just outside the penalty area when Lewis Taylor gave the ball away.

Horsham had shown themselves to be a good footballing side in their two televised F. A. Cup games against Swansea, but on this occasion at times were guilty of trying to over-play.

Mitten's early injury thrust 18-year-old goalkeeper Luke Stonebridge into the action after just one previous senior appearance – away to Horsham YMCA in this season's League Cup.

And Stonebridge more than played his part by keeping Invicta on terms with a great 15 th minute save to deny striker Simon Austin when Jacob Mingle played the ball out to Carney on the right.

Two minutes later Invicta were ahead and on their way to a comfortable victory.

Horsham goalkeeper Seuke kept out a strong far post header from Invicta centre half Bryant after 34 minutes when Watson sent over the home the home side's first corner of the game from the right.

A 38 th minute shot from Horsham striker Lee Farrell was blocked by Samuel Kola Okikiolu when Nigel Brake played the ball from the left across to Carney on the right.

But Invicta were well in control and had the ball in the net again during first half stoppage time, but were unlucky to have the ‘goal' ruled out for handball when Saunders brought the ball down and thumped it into the net after a touch from Shittu.

Invicta were playing some good stuff and Seuke had to come out to save from Shittu in the 49 th minute when superb touches from James Corbett and Bremner put the striker through down the middle.

Captain Roland Edge shot over from the left hand side after 52 minutes when Bremner played the ball into his path as Invicta threatened again.

There were chances at both ends after 56 minutes as Seuke touched a long range Watson shot round the post and Stonebridge rushed out to clear from Farrell.

Bryant was having a good game in the Invicta defence at the start of a second month's loan spell from Gillingham and headed a Brake cross from the left out for a corner after 62 minutes.

Horsham pulled a goal back thanks to an 88 th minute penalty from TAYLOR after a foul on Carney.

But this was Invicta's day and the home side completed the scoring during stoppage time when substitute Micheal EVERITT slotted the ball into the net after Bremner had held it up following a throw in on the right.

It is rare these days for the elder Everitt brother to start on the bench and perhaps even rarer for him to find himself on the scoresheet. This was Everitt's first league goal since he had struck twice in a 3-0 home win over Wealdstone in September 2004. His only previous goal this season had come in the League Cup at Horsham YMCA.

There were bookings for Invicta's Corbett and Horsham's Tom Graves and Mingle.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA : Mitten (Stonebridge 4 mins), Watson, Edge (Friend 77 mins), Chappell, Bryant, Okikiolu, Glyde, Shittu, Bremner, Saunders (M. Everitt 81 mins), Corbett. Unused subs : J. Everitt, Abel

HORSHAM : Seuke, Myall (Salaam 58 mins), Brake, Graves, Hemsley (French 65 mins), Carney, Mingle, Taylor, Austin, Farrell (Davis 69 mins), Charman. Unused subs : Howard, Mansfield.