Freddie Sears scored twice - including a stunning opener - as Chatham ran out big winners against Folkestone at Maidstone Road.

Sears’ top-corner cracker was cancelled out by Joe Turner but Rowan Liburd quickly restored the lead and Chats pulled clear after the break with a second for Sears and John Ufuah’s clincher.

The only downside for the hosts was a red card for manager Kevin Hake after a coming-together with Folkestone full-back Gavin Hoyte during the first half.

Victory extended Chatham’s unbeaten run in the Isthmian Premier to 11 games, moving them into the top five, while it was a third successive defeat for Folkestone having won their previous four.

Invicta made a bright start to the Kent derby but trailed against the run of play to a great strike from Sears in the 18th minute.

Chats skipper Jack Evans deserved credit for his part in the goal, winning a tackle high up the pitch to send the ball into the path of Sears.

With his back to goal, he turned and sent a brilliant effort beyond the dive of Jonny Henly into the far top corner.

Chats picked up after the goal but had boss Hake sent from the dugout six minutes later after pushing Invicta right-back Gavin Hoyte to the ground.

Players from both sides piled in after the incident before Hake was dismissed after a chat between referee Jake Woodman and his linesman.

Chatham went close to a second when Jordy Mongoy got in behind Morgan and lobbed Henly but the ball narrowly cleared the bar.

Folkestone were well in the game, playing some good football, and an equaliser followed in the 41st minute as Turner ran on to Matthias Fanimo’s pass and eased the ball past Joe Wright.

But Chats reacted well and regained the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Kasim Aidoo’s left-wing cross was brought under control by Sears and he stood up a ball to the back post for Liburd to nod home from a yard out.

The lively Sears saw a shot from the edge of the box deflect off Invicta defender Frankie Morgan and spin wide in the opening minutes of the second half.

But he was soon celebrating again after extending Chatham’s lead in the 54th minute.

He pounced for his third double in four games after Invicta failed to deal with Evans’ corner from the right.

Folkestone looked for a way back but if Sears was in good form at one end, the same could be said of Chats centre-back Reece Butler at the other.

There’s a reason home fans sing ‘You’ll never beat Reece Butler’ - he certainly loves defending.

It was effectively game over when Chatham extended their lead in the 75th minute.

Evans played over a free-kick from the right and when Simon Cooper’s effort was blocked by the Invicta defence, Ufuah buried the loose ball.

Chatham: Wright, Scarlett, Aidoo, Robins, Butler (Nelson 85mins), Evans (O’Keefe 81mins), Liburd (Isiaka 81mins), Sears (Sene Richardson 89mins), Cooper, Mongoy, Ufuah (Anokye Boadi 90mins). Subs not used: None.

Folkestone: Henly, Hoyte, Morgan (S Smith 76mins), Odeniran, Kassarate, Rance, Blackman (Anderson 80mins), D Smith, Fanimo (Derry 65mins, Turner. Subs not used: Kennedy, Da Costa.

Referee: Jake Woodman.

Attendance: 1,711.