Folkestone Invicta continued their good recent away run when an early goal from Tayler Thomas gave them all three points from their first visit to Walton Casuals.

18-year-old Thomas had extended his loan spell from Gillingham after scoring in the midweek 6-0 Kent Senior Cup win at Chatham.

And it was THOMAS who struck in the seventh minute at the Waterside Stadium when a James Dryden touch put him through and he hit a left-footed strike into the roof of the net.

Invicta had kept the same starting line up which had won so convincingly at Chatham in midweek, with injury doubt Josh Burchell passed fit to keep his place in a four-man defence.

Home right back Chris Robinson was booked as early as the third minute for a late challenge on Josh Vincent.

And the visitors had a good chance in the sixth minute when home goalkeeper Craig Bradshaw saved with his feet when Thomas cut in and closed in on goal after Micheal Everitt had beaten Jordan McCartney and played the ball through.

But Thomas was to score a minute later to put Invicta in the driving seat.

A scare at the other end in the 13th minute saw Matt Weston embark on a very good run in into the box, but the striker went down before he could shoot, only for referee Rob Allum to wave away the home side’s penalty appeals.

There was a bizarre incident two minutes later when Invicta captain Dryden had to temporarily leave the field as his black cycling shorts under Invicta’s designated white shorts were not of a suitable colour.

A 19th minute Weston shot was touched round the post for the game’s first corner by Invicta goalkeeper Charlie Mitten following a pass from Liam Grier.

Weston was then put clean through a minute later by striking partner Daniel Platel but Mitten came out to save again.

Dryden couldn’t quite make full contact in the 24th minute as he volleyed over from a good James Everitt ball forward as the rain began to fall.

Invicta were close again in the 33rd minute when a Dryden shot was blocked by a defender and Vincent’s follow up was saved by Bradshaw when Thomas played the ball in from the right after the referee had seemed poised to blow for handball against Vincent.

The home side’s best moment of the first half came a minute later when a Jamel Carr thunderbolt bounced off the Invicta crossbar and out for a goal kick.

A 48th minute Platel shot was blocked by centre half Frankie Chappell after a Weston ball and home captain Craig Lewington shot over from the edge of the penalty area.

Invicta might have increased their lead in the 54th minute when Dryden headed wide from a Jimmy Jackson free kick on the left.

But the game was becoming more scrappy and Invicta’s Kieran Byrne and Thomas were both booked for misdemeanours after the home side had been awarded free kicks.

Weston’s Platel soon joined them in the referee’s notebook in similar circumstances.

Jack Francis was just wide with a spectacular 62nd minute back flick from a Lewington free kick.

Jackson moved to left back for Invicta when player-coach Scott Lindsey replaced Burchell.

And the visitors had to withstand some pressure as a 72nd minute Francis shot deflected off Chappell and Mitten got down to touch it round the post for only the game’s second corner.

Lewington volleyed wide from the edge of the penalty area in the 75th minute and James Everitt blocked from Carr three minutes later when substitute Dwain Williams played a good ball to Grier.

And Mitten touched over Platel’s 89th minute header after a ball in from Robinson.

There were late substitute appearances for Invicta’s Simon Rainbow and Joe Neilson, the latter back at the club after re-joining from Kent League neighbours Hythe Town.

Invicta had to wait until stoppage time for their only corner of the game but had done enough to secure the win.

WALTON CASUALS: Bradshaw, Robinson (Hammond 90 mins), Cayford, Lewington, McCartney, Francis, Grier, Conroy (Williams 72 mins), Weston, Platel, Carr (Kiganda 85 mins).

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mitten, J. Everitt, Burchell (Lindsey 61 mins), Dickson, Chappell, M. Everitt, Thomas (Neilson 84 mins), Byrne, Dryden, Vincent (Rainbow 80 mins), Jackson. Unused subs: Dix, Conyers

Attendance: 103.