Folkestone Invicta joint-head coach Roland Edge looks ahead to Isthmian Premier derby against Chatham Town at Cheriton Road
Published: 05:00, 15 August 2023
Updated: 09:40, 15 August 2023
Joint-head coach Roland Edge admits Folkestone would be foolish to underestimate Chatham ahead of their first Kent derby of the season tonight.
Both made winning opening-day Isthmian Premier starts on Saturday, as Chats beat Bognor Regis 1-0 at home while Invicta earned a 4-0 away victory over Wingate & Finchley.
The Medway outfit are playing at Step 3 this term after back-to-back promotions but Edge knows they have plenty of experience in their squad ahead of the clash at Cheriton Road (kick-off 7.45pm).
“They’ve got a very good side mixed with experience and youth,” said Edge, in charge of Folkestone alongside Micheal Everitt.
“Dean [Beckwith] is at the back for them, he has played ‘X’ amount of Football League games. Jordy Robins and Cameron Brodie have played at our level - and some of them have played higher.
“It will not be easy. We would be fools to underestimate them.”
The match will see Edge come up against his Chatham chairman-manager friend Kevin Hake, too, before Saturday’s home match with Enfield.
“I know Kev well,” noted Edge. “He’s a friend of mine.
“They’re in a league they’ve not been in for a long time.
“Then, we have Enfield. They tend to be around the play-offs, and who knows what happens from there.
“We’re happy to have the three points on the board, but we know what’s in front of us.”
Ibrahim Olutade bagged a hat-trick for Invicta at Wingate, returning striker David Smith got their other goal, while new Chats frontman Jamie Yila scored the match’s only goal against Bognor.
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Thomas Reeves