Amadou Kassarate delivered the perfect response for Folkestone after a debut to forget.

The former Welling United and Bishop’s Stortford midfielder netted for Invicta as they earned a 2-1 Isthmian Premier victory at Hastings on Bank Holiday Monday.

That came after the 28-year-old had been controversially sent off in the first half of last weekend’s 1-0 home loss to Cray Valley. Fellow midfielder Dean Rance was also given his marching orders shortly after half-time.

“Amadou is a really nice lad and a very honest player,” said Folkestone manager Andy Drury, who expects to be without Kassarate for Saturday’s FA Cup journey to Ramsgate.

“He’s someone that will break up play. With Jack Jebb out injured, we needed another body in there. I think Amadou will do well for us.

“He offers the physicality that I felt we were lacking in a couple of games so far.

“Amadou apologised after Saturday and I just said ‘Just go and perform on Monday’ and, to be fair, he did that.”

Kassarate’s bow at Cheriton Road lasted 35 minutes in front of a 780-strong crowd as he was booked twice in quick succession.

Drury said: “He was a bit unlucky on his debut.

“They were two really cheap yellow cards. Normally, a lot of referees would give you a bit of a chance with one of those ones.

“Dean Rance got his second yellow and was sent off for literally appealing a decision - there wasn’t any swearing or anything like that.

“I didn’t really know that was in the rules! So, the two red cards were very questionable.”

Drury felt Folkestone dominated in front of a crowd of 1,751 at The Pilot Field.

Striker Dan Smith’s second-half strike added to Kassarate’s early opening goal to leave a penalty by ex-Dartford loan forward Davide Rodari for the hosts in vain.

“We were much the better side for 60 or 65 minutes,” reflected Drury. “We probably could have been 3-0 or 4-0 up.

“But we were not ruthless enough and then they got a penalty. After playing with nine men on Saturday for a lot of the game, we tired a little bit.

“All in all, it was a good win but a deserved result.”

For Smith, it was a third goal in four competitive fixtures, adding to his match-winning brace in a 3-2 victory at Dover.

Drury noted: “Dan has come in and done very well.

“He’s always up there with the running statistics because his work-rate is so high.

“Chipping in with goals is a bonus.”

While weekend hosts Ramsgate ply their trade a division below Drury’s side, Folkestone are expected to be light in midfield with Kassarate, Rance and Jebb set to be unavailable, while Ben Smith’s side reached the second round proper in a memorable run last term.

“I would have probably said we’re favourites if we were at full strength,” said Drury. “But it’s no secret that we’ll be missing a couple of players. It probably is a 50-50 game.

“We also had Marvel Ekpiteta out on Monday. So, it will probably be about who turns up on the day.

“We know they have got a good side - I have tried to sign a couple of them - but people like Josh Chambers and Youngy (Matt Young) will probably come back in for us.

“It’s up to them to keep their place.”

Plenty of players from both sides will be familiar with one another as Rams’ left-sided player Alfie Paxman and prolific striker Joe Taylor face their old club.

Drury, who will also be interested in the result of Sittingbourne’s cup match against Dover, having watched the teams play one another in the competition in the 1990s as a youngster, added: “I know a lot of the Ramsgate players, anyway.

“I’ve watched them a lot over the last year or so.

“It will be a tough game, they have got some good players.

“It’s a game that we want to win. We want to have a good cup run this season.

“We will be under strength with a few missing but it’s a game that we still want a result from.”

Hythe suffered consecutive 4-0 Isthmian South East losses in Nick Davis’ first two games as manager.

They lost at Beckenham on Saturday and again at home to Sheppey on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Cannons are next in action at Ramsgate on Tuesday.

Lydd won 3-0 at Bridon Ropes in the FA Vase first qualifying round thanks to Luke Burdon, Sammy Adams and an own goal.

The Lydders won 1-0 at Kennington in the Southern Counties East Premier Division as substitute Kenny Pogue got the only goal on Tuesday.

They host Sheppey Sports in the Challenge Cup first round on Saturday and visit Faversham in the league on Tuesday.