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There is more to come from hitman David Smith, according to Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley.
Smith scored twice in their 5-1 victory over promotion rivals Kingstonian in Isthmian Premier on Saturday, having struck up a lethal partnership with Ade Yusuff this season.
He netted twice more in their 4-2 comeback victory at Bognor Regis on Tuesday, with Yusuff and Jordan Wright also on target.
Cugley is thrilled with the way his two frontmen are performing but believes Smith, who has netted 11 times already this season, can play even better.
Speaking before their win over Bognor Regis, he said: “If I’m being honest, he is not playing quite as well as he knows he can play.
“But overall, him and Ade are doing well.
“They are a handful for any team at the moment - just ask Eastleigh! We want them to get a lot of goals this season.
“They link up really well.
“It’s nice that, when Ade was brought down for the penalty, he gave the ball straight to Smithy.”
Another to bag a brace in the big win over Kingstonian was utility man Matt Newman - who had not scored for more than two years before the weekend. Yusuff got Invicta’s other goal.
Kingstonian keeper Rob Tolfrey was sent off with just five minutes played, effectively ending the game as a contest.
On Newman’s display, Cugley said: “He has been brilliant.
“He has been such a good player for us.
“It’s nice because, sometimes, these kinds of players only really get the praise they deserve when they get goals. One of the goals was a really good header.
“He has been immense since he came back to Folkestone.
"I’m very lucky to have him.”
Everything went Invicta’s way at Cheriton Road with defender Ollie Cook coming off injured for Kingstonian, shortly after Tolfrey had been dismissed.
Cugley admitted: “It was just one of those days where everything went our way.
“Their goalie got sent off and their centre-half went off injured inside the first 15 minutes.
“Sometimes you cannot make it count but I thought my players were great. I’m really pleased with that side of things.
“It allowed us the chance to put the subs on early which was great. It was just one of those nice days.”
“It’s a good league at the moment, the top-half is really strong,” added Cugley who is in charge of fourth-placed Invicta.
“It’s maybe the strongest I have ever known it. This year, there are 10 or 11 really good sides in it.
“People take the mickey when I say I’m pleased to get 50 points.
“But we are just delighted to be part of this league and near the top of it.”
Folkestone’s attention now turns to the FA Trophy, hosting Hendon this weekend in the third qualifying round.
Defender Josh Vincent, who is also carrying a knock, missed the Bognor Regis match through a one-match ban but Cugley is hopeful he will be fit enough to return against Hendon.
