Folkestone defender Gavin Hoyte spoke of his disappointment after their derby defeat at Chatham.

Invicta made an early impression at Maidstone Road but trailed to a Freddie Sears cracker.

And while Joe Turner levelled, Rowan Liburd, a second for Sears and John Ufuah’s clincher saw the visitors beaten 4-1.

Folkestone drop a couple of places to 10th in the Isthmian Premier after a third defeat in a row but they’re only three points off the play-off places.

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

“I thought we started off well but goals change games.

“We got back into it and even at 2-1 we were still confident we could go on to win the game but when they get the third it’s very hard to come back from that.

“I thought everyone was on it with the start we had, a lot different to our last game at Potters Bar (3-2 defeat).

“We were on the front foot, we were winning a lot of balls, I could hear their manager on the side saying ‘they’re winning first and second balls’ but goals change games.

“We’d spoken before the game and it was just be confident and do our basics, play in their half, win our headers at the back, be as a team, be together and try and get our shots off.

“I thought we did start quite strong but we’ve lost the game.”

Hoyte was well aware of Sears’ qualities having faced each other in the youth ranks at Arsenal and West Ham respectively.

Finding themselves on the same pitch again, Sears showed his class with a spectacular opener.

Report: Chatham 4-1 Folkestone

Hoyte said: “All through the youth levels I played against him, not so much in the league, but from the youth levels I remember playing against him.

“You could see his quality, he’s still got that quality.

“If you give him time on the edge of the box, he’s going to score, so that’s what he did.”

It’s a tight division with only six points between fourth-placed Chatham and Chichester in 17th.

There’s all to play for as Folkestone look to launch another winning run, starting at home to Dartford next weekend.

“We won four on the bounce, now we’ve gone the other way and lost three,” said Hoyte.

“It’s now everyone building up together, getting that confidence back. We’ve done four, so why can’t we do it again?

“Let’s wipe that slate clean and then try and get on another run.

“I know we’re not far off the play-offs. Get a few wins and everything changes again.

“It looks like we’re getting a lot of players back as well.

“That’s going to be important for the games coming up, especially now you can make five subs.

“With the team we’ve got, those five subs can all make a difference.

“Once we’ve got everyone there, it’s a game-changer.”