Isthmian Premier frontrunners Dover battled to a hard-fought derby victory at Folkestone on Tuesday night.

The match took an hour to explode into life on Bonfire Night but did do so in emphatic fashion as Whites won.

Folkestone forward Dan Smith was red-carded before midfielder Luke Baptiste scored minutes later and it finished 1-0 to Whites, despite late pressure from Invicta.

The hosts created the first chance in the fifth minute as 10-goal top scorer Smith flicked wide midfielder Jack Jebb’s corner at Cheriton Road in front of a crowd of 2,906.

Five minutes later, Invicta goalkeeper Jonny Henly punched clear to deny Dover’s top scorer George Nikaj after fellow forward Ruben Soares-Junior had kept alive a long clearance from away captain and keeper Mitch Walker.

Next to go close was Folkestone centre-half Ian Gayle. His tame header was comfortably gathered by Walker.

But the game’s first big opportunity went the visitors’ way. Baptiste dinked over Henly, only to see his 20th-minute shot land on the crossbar, the midfielder having initially charged down Gayle’s attempted clearance.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, 33-year-old Walker used his experience to gather Henly’s big free-kick upfield that had led to a goalmouth scramble as the away team struggled to clear.

Walker then again made a top save to deny Smith from a Jebb free-kick, albeit the offside flag had been raised.

With Folkestone regularly creating chances from Jebb set-pieces, defender Marvel Ekpiteta was the next to test Walker, before forward Nikaj called Henly into action as the first period ended goalless.

Home forward Tom Derry forced a near-post save from Whites’ impressive shot-stopper in the 49th minute after he had wriggled free.

As the chances continued to come and go for Invicta, Walker tipped a looping Smith header over.

There was a long stoppage to allow Ekpiteta to get treatment before he returned to the pitch with a bandage on his head.

But the first real fireworks on the field came on the hour mark when referee Steve Goldup sent-off Smith for a late challenge on midfielder Alfie Matthews.

And Jake Leberl’s troops went in front midway through the second half. Baptiste bundled past Henly from Nikaj’s low cross after a short-corner routine to spark wild scenes among the away contingent.

Invicta boss Andy Drury promptly responded to falling behind by sending on Joe Turner for his home bow in place of Khale Da Costa.

With 11 minutes to play and the hosts trying to find an equaliser, Dean Rance bulldozed forward and drilled inches wide.

The 88th minute presented Whites’ Soares-Junior, who ended last term at Cheriton Road, with the chance to settle the result, only to drag wide substitute Francis Mampolo’s lay-off.

At the start of more than 10 minutes of stoppage time, Derry blasted over on the turn for Invicta after a superb cross by left-back Frankie Morgan.

Dover could have got a second with four minutes of injury time left but a last-ditch Hoyte block denied the visitors on the counter-attack.

In the dying embers, Turner spun and saw his left-wing delivery get parried away by Walker before Ekpiteta sent a long-range volley inches over as Dover held on.

Tempers spilled over after the full-time whistle when some Dover players celebrated in front of the Folkestone supporters.

Home manager Drury made three changes from their side, which suffered a 2-1 defeat at Carshalton on Saturday.

Midfielder Rance came in for Sam Blackman while two changes in the backline saw Morgan and captain Gayle replace Jamie Mascoll and youngster Joel Odeniran.

Whites boss Jake Leberl named an unchanged starting line-up from the team that were 3-0 winners at home against Potters Bar on Saturday.

As it had been at Crabble, kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes due to the number of fans flocking into the ground.

That crowd was Folkestone’s highest home attendance, beating the 2,332-strong crowd which saw Harry Redknapp bring a strong team down to Cheriton Road for a benefit game in November 1996 after freak floods in the town.

The attendance was also clear of the one which saw Invicta win 3-2 at Dover in August, although the record crowd at the ground remains the 7,881 that watched Folkestone play Margate in the Kent Senior Cup in 1958.

Dover, four points clear after five straight league victories, will have another derby at Chatham in the league this Saturday. Invicta will be at home to Cray Wanderers as they aim to respond after back-to-back defeats.

Folkestone Invicta: Henly, Hoyte, Morgan (Mascoll 94mins), Gayle (Odeniran 79mins), Ekpiteta, Kassarate, Rance (Blackman 81mins), Jebb, Derry, Smith, Da Costa (Turner 70mins). Sub not used: Ebuzoeme.

Dover Athletic: Walker, T.Amgbaduba, Sesay, Tennent (Gyebi 99mins), Cocoracchio, Baptiste (Mampolo 81mins), Matthews (Mensah 95mins), Nikaj (E.Amgbaduba 95mins), Soares-Junior, Pont, Wilkinson (Young 103mins).

Referee: Steve Goldup.

Attendance: 2,906.