Hat-trick hero Dan Smith already appears well on course to hit the 30-goal mark for Folkestone this season.

Smith got three goals, including a penalty in first-half stoppage time, in Invicta’s 8-1 home victory over Isthmian South Central side Ascot United in the FA Trophy third qualifying round last weekend.

The in-form striker, 25, has nine goals to his name for the campaign and manager Andy Drury said: “Dan has been good all season.

“He works his socks off. He’s up to nine goals for the season and I always thought he would do well for us.

“Our goal will be to try and get him up to 30 for the season.”

Smith should have more than enough time to reach that target, too - especially if he keeps scoring at the rate he has.

“We’re only eight games into the league season and we’re still in the FA Trophy,” said Drury.

“So, he still has got at least another 35 games to hit that target. He’s on course to do it.

“If we can get people like Tom Derry, Evans Kouassi, Khale Da Costa and Matthias Fanimo chipping in, as well, I’m sure we will be all right.”

Also on target at Cheriton Road for Isthmian Premier Folkestone were winger Khale Da Costa, midfielder Amadou Kassarate and two-goal substitute Evans Kouassi, alongside an own goal.

Asked if his team were able to play like that every match, Drury replied: “That would be nice!

“To be fair, we have probably had games like that already this season where we didn’t take our chances. We had a really aggressive press on Saturday, and we took our chances and were ruthless. Everything was good.

“It’s just a matter of taking that into the next game and, if we get on a run, we should be fine.

“We have added to the squad quite well in the last couple of weeks with Khale and Matthias coming in. Jack Jebb is back to fitness, as well.

“Obviously, they beat Margate 1-0 in the last round.

“But I think we made them look bad. We didn’t give them any time on the ball.

“I didn’t know that much about them beforehand, but I think we just made them look poor by being brilliant.”

Da Costa, 30, had got the scoring started in front of a crowd of 263 but Fanimo - another recently-recruited winger - also earned praise from the boss.

Drury said: “Khale is a good lad.

“He scored a good goal on Saturday and set one up. Matthias was a massive threat on the other flank. He probably deserved a goal, as well.

“It was just one of those games where pretty much everything went in and everyone contributed.

“The good thing is that we have got a team that can do that week-in, week-out.”

A dislocated shoulder for Chris Sessegnon, around 10 minutes after he had come on, was one of few negatives from the afternoon for Invicta, with the 31-year-old defender set for another spell out.

“It’s disappointing for Sess,” admitted Drury.

“It had nothing to do with his fitness. It’s just to do with how he fell.

“But he’s a good lad and a good player so I’m sure that he will come back stronger.”

Folkestone’s reward is a first-round FA Trophy trip to Southern League Central team Barton Rovers on October 26.

Next for promotion-chasing Invicta is a league match at home to Hashtag United on Saturday.

Drury, who welcomes forward Tom Derry back from suspension, said: “I think they’re really good, going forward.

“They have recruited a good keeper - one that was at Bishop’s Stortford a couple of years ago (Jack Giddens). Like us, they

have recruited a few so it might take them a while to get them up to speed.

“They will be a decent outfit, but it’s more about us.”

Winger Ellis Brown has left Folkestone after two competitive starts this season.

"My short time @FIFC has come to an end," the 28-year-old wrote on social media. "Wish the boys the best of luck.

"Looking forward to seeing what’s in store for me next."