Neil Cugley is delighted that his traditionally slow-starting Folkestone Invicta side have begun the season with back-to-back wins.

A year ago Invicta picked up just one win in their opening three games, but they made it two-from-two on Tuesday night with a 1-0 derby win at a spirited Whitstable side in Ryman League Division 1 South.

Ian Draycott’s slick early goal was enough to win it at the Belmont and Cugley accepts his side are among the title favourites and have a good platform to build on with only six sides having taken maximum points,

Cugley said: “We don’t normally start the season very well so for us to get two wins and six points is a big bonus for us.

“I think Hastings and us and Faversham are probably the three favourites, maybe Guernsey. We don’t get too excited but it’s a good start, we’re happy. We’re not at our best yet, the pitches aren’t quite lively enough for us yet.”

Invicta had to endure some nervy moments as Town threw everyone forward - including their keeper at one stage - in a bid to snatch a point, and Cugley admitted: “We needed a second goal. I think we deserved a second goal, we didn’t get it but to be fair to Whitstable they have nothing to lose and they are going to throw everything at you, aren’t they?

“They started getting it forward early and hoping to get a goal.”

He added: “I was quite pleased with us. If we had got the second goal I think we would have been comfortable but until you get it, it’s hard.

“I was quite pleased, some of the football we played was good, especially in the first half. It was a good goal and some of the little movements were quite good.

“I thought Phil Starkey done well, he hasn’t started that well for us but I thought he was everso good, he did well in midfield and Matt Newman too. We played some good football.”