Manager Andy Drury is optimistic play-off chasing Folkestone will soon climb the table.

They bounced back from their derby defeat at home to Dover last midweek with a win over Cray Wanderers on Saturday.

Isthmian Premier Invicta, who were edged out 1-0 in front of a club-record 2,906 crowd against the Whites, with striker Dan Smith sent-off, earned a 1-0 victory over Neil Smith’s Cray side.

Mid-table Folkestone will host Southern League Premier Division South Hanwell Town in the FA Trophy this Saturday before returning to league action when Dulwich Hamlet visit on Tuesday night.

Speaking before Tuesday's league games, Drury said: “Results-wise, it was a good response from the boys.

"But performance-wise - as I said after the game last Tuesday - we were fantastic. I felt we were the better team by far.

“It was just important on Saturday to get the three points. Hopefully, we can get a run going and climb the table a little bit.

Festive offer for Folkestone’s fans

Report: Folkestone 0-1 Dover

Manager Drury blasts derby red-card call

“We’re only five points off the play-offs and have a game in hand so, if we can climb the table a bit in the near future, that’ll be great.”

Smith bagged his 11th goal this campaign on 28 minutes against Wanderers before Jonny Henly saved a second-half penalty to deny substitute Anthony Cook after young Invicta defender Joel Odeniran was adjudged to have fouled an away player.

“In the first half, I thought we dominated them on Saturday,” reflected Drury. “We should, really, have been 3-0 or 4-0 up. Their keeper has pulled off some great saves, to be fair.

“In the second half, we suffered a little bit with tiredness after playing last Tuesday with 10 men but we defended brilliantly.

“Jonny saved the penalty but didn’t have a lot to do other than that, really.

“It was a good save. Cookie doesn’t miss many.”

Just four days after their big derby with Dover, the match against Cray Wanderers attracted another healthy attendance of 966 at Cheriton Road.

The boss said: “I think the supporters can see they have got a good team. The players care and they’re playing well.

“We probably deserve six to eight points more than we have got so far this season.

"It’s always important to all be one as a club and make sure that we’re pulling in the same direction.”

Next up for Drury’s troops are Hanwell, who are on a four-match unbeaten run, which started with a 5-0 Trophy thrashing of Hendon last month.

Asked what he knew about the London club, Drury replied: “Not too much.

"Hanwell are the same step as us so I’m sure they will be a decent enough side. It’ll just be about getting into the next round and seeing who we can get.

“But we’ll do a bit of research on them after having had a busy week last week. With the squad we have got, it will be about how we perform in most games.

“We’ll have a few cup-tied and potentially suspended so we’ll just see where we are.”

Experienced forward Joe Turner and Odeniran will be among those cup-tied while captain Ian Gayle and fellow defender Chris Sessegnon are both injury doubts.

Folkestone confirmed they had been successful in appealing against Smith’s impending ban after a straight red card for a tackle on Dover’s Alfie Matthews.

Drury had said this week: “We’ll see what the outcome is with that.

"Hopefully, it gets overturned but you’re never too confident.”

The winners of the Trophy tie will pocket £3,750 in prize money.

Invicta’s Isthmian Premier game away to Potters Bar will be played on Tuesday, December 10, at Kings Langley.