Manager Andy Drury is out to right the wrongs from one of the lowest points of his career when Folkestone face Hastings.

The teams will lock horns at Cheriton Road in Isthmian Premier on New Year’s Day (3pm).

They met at the same venue on Boxing Day 2023, the away side securing a convincing 5-0 victory.

Much has changed since, though, and play-off chasing Folkestone will start 2025 in mid-table while Hastings are third-bottom despite Saturday’s 1-0 victory at basement boys Bognor Regis.

“In this league, anyone can beat anyone on their day,” said former Luton and Ipswich midfielder Drury, whose troops visit another struggling side, Bowers & Pitsea, on Saturday (also 3pm).

“If you have an off-day and someone has a good day and they’re up for it, they’ll win. When Hastings beat us 5-0, that was probably the lowest point of my whole career in football.

“It’s time, in my opinion, to right a wrong for the club and the supporters.”

The game is expected to attract another healthy attendance after a 1,175-strong crowd saw Invicta win 3-2 at home against Wingate & Finchley last weekend. It was a result which moved them level on points with the north London club but with a league fixture in hand.

Drury said: “It was a good crowd, considering they wouldn’t have brought many at all. I think the crowds have been good this year.

“They can probably see we do play good football, we try to get on the front foot, and we have just been a bit ravaged this year - with suspensions in the early part of the season and then injuries in the past month or so - which we’re just kind of getting to the back-end of now.”

Goals from skipper Ian Gayle and substitute Tom Derry added to experienced Evans Kouassi’s first-minute goal against Wingate after a frustrating goalless draw at Lewes on Boxing Day.

“We played really well against Lewes - and should have won,” said Drury, who was forced to bring on young goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for No.1 Jonny Henly in the 51st minute against Wingate after Henly had picked up a knock.

“We had four or five really good chances in the second half to win the game but we didn’t take them.

“On Saturday, we started off really well in the first 10 minutes and then we stopped doing what had got us success, and we played without a purpose. There was one lapse of concentration and we got punished for it whereas we’re not punishing teams.

“We had a great chance to go 2-0 up through Dan Smith but, to be fair to their keeper [Charlie Grainger], a decent keeper, he pulled off a decent save. Then, they have scored from us not getting tight and not stopping a cross and, all of a sudden, it’s 1-1 again.

“I told the boys they needed to play with more purpose in the second half and, for the second game in three days, we were outstanding in the second half. I don’t think Wingate got in our half too much.

“We were camped in their half for the majority of the game, which was pleasing.”

Ivorian forward Kouassi wasted little time in marking his first start since a month-long loan at Bowers.

Drury said: “We had a chat with him before he went out on loan and it was one of those where we just didn’t think he was fit enough.

“We wanted him to get game-time, week-in, week-out, which he did for a month. Since he’s come back, his attitude has been first-class.

“He was really good on Saturday and a threat.”

New midfielder Conor Kelly has been in the thick of things, too, starting against Wingate after a debut substitute appearance at Lewes.

“He brings energy and a bit of quality on the ball,” said Drury, who’s managing fellow midfielders Jack Jebb (hamstring), Dean Rance (knee) and Amadou Kassarate (ankle) through the festive period.

“When Conor came on at Lewes, he was a bit of a bright spark.

“He’s not played for more than a year but he did well for more than 60 minutes on Saturday. Like I say, he’s not played a lot of football so 60-odd minutes was enough for him.

“I think he has done well when you consider he hasn’t played for more than a year.”

The matches keep coming for Invicta, who host Cheshunt next Tuesday (7.45pm).

Drury said: “It’s going to be tough.

“We’re going to need to rotate a little bit and use the squad as much as we can, and people are going to need to come in and do a job for us. If they keep the shirt, they keep the shirt.

“We just need to make sure we don’t get too many injuries and everyone is fresh.”

Henly’s injury will be assessed again ahead of the game against Hastings.