Newcomer Chris Sessegnon believes the busy festive period can be a catalyst for relegation-threatened Folkestone to start climbing the Isthmian Premier table.

Sessegnon, 30, made his competitive debut as a 5-0 home thrashing against Hastings on Boxing Day sent Invicta into the bottom four.

It means Folkestone remain pointless since Andy Drury replaced joint-bosses Roland Edge and Micheal Everitt last month, and they are on a five-match losing run in all competitions.

Davide Rodari bagged a hat-trick for Hastings while former Ashford midfielder Tommie Fagg and Kian Moynes were also on target.

New defender Toby Byron hobbled off with an injury late on, too, to make matters worse.

Drury’s troops host Hashtag United this Saturday and have a derby trip to Margate on New Year’s Day. Former Ebbsfleet, Dover, and Margate defender Sessegnon sees the schedule as a chance to put things right.

He said: “This is the time where you can get a lot of points.

“It’s a chance to put things right. Hopefully, we can pick up a few points and start pushing up the table.”

With Invicta seeing a couple of scheduled games fall victim to the weather this month, Sessegnon had to wait for his first opportunity to impress at Folkestone.

His competitive bow came just under three weeks after the club had announced his signing.

He said: “A few people are in the same position as me (having only recently signed for the club).

“Even though as footballers we want to play games, training isn’t the worst thing in the world.

“It allows him (Drury) to put across how he wants to play.”

Sessegnon is now fit after a few months dealing with an Achilles injury and featured in Thursday’s 3-0 friendly home win over Isthmian South East Sittingbourne.

Striker Dave Smith bagged a brace while Ruben Soares-Junior also found the target.

Sessegnon noted: “I’m back fit - but just need some game time.

“A few people said he (Drury) is a good guy so it seemed like a no-brainer.”

If his surname appears familiar, it might be because Sessegnon has two brothers who are twins and play professional football - one for a Premier League club!

He explained: “Ryan has gone to Tottenham and Steve is at Wigan. Football’s definitely in the blood.”

All three won’t have much downtime for too many festivities.

Chris added: “It is [tough], but we’re used to it now.”

When Folkestone met Margate in the league at home in August, they won 2-0 in front of a crowd of more than 1,000.

The teams also met at Hartsdown Park in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, as they drew 2-2, before Gate won 3-1 in the replay.