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Folkestone Invicta defender Gavin Hoyte knows what’s required against Dartford after derby disappointment at Chatham

Gavin Hoyte and his Folkestone team-mates are fired up to make amends in their next Kent derby.

Invicta host in-form Dartford at Cheriton Road this Saturday (3pm), a week on from a 4-1 defeat at Chatham.

Folkestone Invicta defender Gavin Hoyte in action at Chatham. Picture: Helen Cooper
Folkestone Invicta defender Gavin Hoyte in action at Chatham. Picture: Helen Cooper

They need a reaction after three successive Isthmian Premier defeats, having won four in a row before that.

Folkestone and Dartford are on the fringes of the play-offs going into Christmas, with all to play for this weekend.

“It’s another derby,” said right-back Hoyte.

“These are the games that are easy to get up for.

“I know everyone will be up for it.

“It’s easy to gee everyone up for that, even more so after what happened against Chatham.

“Everyone’s going to be more focused.

“Going through a few losses, you think ‘oh’, but anything anyone does now, just be confident.

“We need to look back at what we’ve done well, how we got those four wins, and go from there.”

Hoyte, 34, has been ever-present since joining Folkestone from Maidstone over the summer.

It’s the former Arsenal man’s first experience of part-time football and evening training.

He’s found work as a teaching assistant in a secondary school and is enjoying combining work with football.

“It’s just adapting to evening training, what you do on your days off, what you do during the day, said Hoyte.

“I’m working now - so it’s just adapting life, really.

Folkestone Invicta defender Gavin Hoyte, right, keeps tabs on John Ufuah, of Chatham. Picture: Helen Cooper
Folkestone Invicta defender Gavin Hoyte, right, keeps tabs on John Ufuah, of Chatham. Picture: Helen Cooper

“You’re not training as much, so I’m stretching or on the bike, or just doing something to keep the legs going to stay fit.

“It’s my first time training evenings so it’s even silly little things like what time do you eat because we finish training at nine or half nine, so it’s like do I eat after training because 10 o’clock’s too late?

“It’s just adapting but I’m enjoying every little bit of it.

“I’m now working in a school as a teaching assistant, so I’m helping out in all different subjects.

“I’m enjoying that and enjoying playing.

“Touch wood, I haven’t picked up any injuries this season. I feel good. I’ve played every game so far and haven’t felt anything.

“I’m enjoying every minute of it, playing again, so that’s the biggest thing for me, staying fit and trying to help this team do something good.

“I want to try and win something. Once you get that bug once, you just want to have that success again, that buzz.”

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