Folkestone joint-boss Roland Edge has explained their decision to move Kane Penn to left-back.

Summer arrival Penn, 25, joined Invicta as a midfielder from Isthmian Premier rivals Hastings and played in the heart of the pitch in their first two league matches.

He has since dropped back into defence, though, to good effect.

Edge, formerly a left-back at Gillingham himself, said: “Fair play to him.

“He didn’t want to come in as a left-back. But somebody got a knock and I think Kane’s a totally different player at left-back.

“He easily could have then said ‘I came here as a midfielder so I’m not playing there’ but, as long as he’s playing, he doesn’t mind.

“I feel he is getting stronger and stronger, playing there.”

But Invicta’s decision to opt to use Penn further back helped limit Makhosini Ryan-Khayne to just four competitive starts - being sent off for a second bookable offence at Margate in their FA Cup 2-2 draw in one of them earlier this month - before he left at the weekend.

“Ryan is a good lad,” said Edge.

“I think he’s a bit unfortunate because Kane has done so well at left-back and we also have Will Moses, who is developing all the time. We’re not a club that can afford to have three left-backs.

“But Ryan is unlucky and I think someone will get a good left-back.”

Another recent change to the Folkestone rearguard has seen on-loan Dagenham keeper Josh Strizovic fill the void left temporarily between the posts by Joe Coleman, who has been unavailable due to work commitments.

On 23-year-old Strizovic, Edge said: “He’s a nice and confident lad. We needed someone due to work commitments for Joe.

“I guess he doesn’t get much game-time at Dagenham, so there’s always some ring-rust, but overall, he has started well.”

He is working alongside fit-again Luke Watkins, who has not played competitive first-team football since an injury in November 2021.

Edge noted: “He’s a really good lad. We have got him as a bit of cover and, hopefully, he can help Joe develop.

“He’s at a time in his career where he wants to coach and is quite content being a No.2, I think - whereas, maybe four or five years ago, he wasn’t.

“But it seems to be working well and he’s a good character.”

Invicta drew 1-1 at home to newly-promoted Whitehawk on Saturday as striker David Smith cancelled out a first-half penalty.

“It was a really tough, tight, game,” Edge reflected.

“They have started the season brilliantly, beating Horsham and Billericay.

“The only disappointing thing for us was, with 10 minutes to go, we had two really good chances. That’s why I’m a little bit disappointed we didn’t get all three points.

“But a draw is a decent result.”

That came after Invicta lost their FA Cup derby replay 3-1 at home to Margate last Tuesday, despite Ira Jackson’s consolation, having drawn 2-2 at Hartsdown Park with 10 men days earlier.

Edge said: “I don’t like to make excuses but I looked at our lads and they looked really tired [before the replay].

“Credit to Margate, they knew that and came out the blocks well.

“They deserved to beat us.”

Folkestone are away to bottom team Concord this Saturday.

Edge said: “We’re away for the next couple of games.

“We’re not too fussed, really, home or away. It’s more about us just getting things right.

“I think we have shown patches of what we’re capable of but, like most managers up and down the country, we’re finding it’s about consistency.

“We just need to go away from home and try to get as many points as we can.”

Invicta will host division rivals Haringey in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round on October 7.

They drew 3-3 at Potters Bar on Tuesday.

Strikers Ibrahim Olutade and David Smith struck in the first half before defender Ian Gayle found the net after the restart.

A first-half Brandon Adams treble put the hosts in front and, although Gayle equalised, with Potters Bar keeper Preston Edwards sent off on 51 minutes, the spoils were shared.