Two first-half goals from Folkestone forward Dave Smith helped them complete an Isthmian Premier double over Margate this season on New Year’s Day.

Both of Smith’s goals in their 2-0 triumph came inside five minutes, the first a penalty, as Invicta earned a first competitive win since Andy Drury took charge in November.

They are now outside the relegation zone and ahead of Gate - with a game in hand on them as well - after they ended a six-game losing streak. It also means Margate remain winless since boss Mark Stimson took charge last month.

Invicta winger Jordan Ababio enjoyed early success against left-back Tyrone Sterling at Hartsdown Park in front of a crowd of 557. He cut inside on 12 minutes, only to fail to hit the target.

But five minutes later, the visitors did go ahead from the spot as referee Kane Dempster adjudged stand-in Margate captain Harry Hudson to have fouled Ababio.

Striker Smith found the bottom corner, despite goalkeeper Harry Seaden going the right way.

And it got even better for Folkestone and their fans midway through the first half when they doubled their advantage. Midfielder Scott Heard drifted right and delivered a sumptuous cross which Smith nodded home for his second of the afternoon and his seventh this term.

Looking for a response, Archie Johnson reached a right-wing delivery for Gate at the back post but he failed to make a proper connection on the ball and Invicta cleared.

Influential Margate playmaker Ben Greenhalgh then saw a long-range free-kick dip inches over back-pedalling keeper Joe Coleman’s crossbar in the 34th minute.

Smith came close to completing his hat-trick before half-time. His snapshot flashed wide of Seaden’s right-hand post while, at the other end, Sterling nodded Greenhalgh’s latest free-kick across the face of goal.

A tough Margate half nearly had a nightmare finish, although centre-half Lewis Knight - just - avoided a second caution while he protested against his initial booking with Mr Dempster.

Seaden kept the home team in the contest eight minutes into the second period. He tipped wide 22-year-old Ababio’s powerful drive.

Despite Gate looking for a goal to get themselves back into the contest, the next chance saw Seaden get down low to block frontman Tom Derry’s 67th-minute shot.

Coleman had to make a similar kind of low save at the other end after Knight had driven out of defence and let fly.

Margate striker Steve Cawley blazed over with 15 minutes to go, both teams having just made substitutions.

Five minutes later, home penalty protests were waved away by Mr Dempster after a tackle by Invicta skipper Callum Davies on young substitute Vinnie Bowman.

Sterling came close to setting up a grandstand finish but his header from a Greenhalgh corner was excellently cleared off the line by the head of defender Kane Penn.

In truth, though, Margate always looked unlikely to score and Invicta were good value for their victory – one Drury seemed to particularly enjoy as he was given a vocal reception from the home faithful.

The result leaves Folkestone 17th, three points ahead of fourth-bottom Cheshunt, while Gate are 18th but have played two league fixtures more than the Ambers.

Their sole switch from a goalless draw against Cray Wanderers on Boxing Day - a result which will stand despite being abandoned in stoppage time due to an injury to a Wands man - saw left-sided player Johnson replace Taner Dogan.

They were without suspended skipper Sam Blackman again, as well.

The away side made three changes after Saturday’s 3-1 loss at home to play-off chasing Hashtag United, which included the return of Ababio after he was recalled from a loan at Faversham.

Smith and midfielder Seidou Sanogo also came in while Will Moses, Joe Boachie and Ruben Soares-Junior dropped to their substitutes’ bench.

It was the fourth meeting between the teams this term. Folkestone won 2-0 at home in the league in August but, after a 2-2 draw at Hartsdown Park in the FA Cup a month later, Gate were 3-1 victors in the replay.

Margate: Seaden, Johnson, Poku (Dogan 71mins), Sterling, Hudson, Gordon (Bowman 71mins), Cawley, Ashworth, Greenhalgh, Rutherford, Knight. Subs not used: Mazzone, Hobbs, Tobin.

Folkestone Invicta: Coleman, Sessegnon, Penn, Goodman, Davies, Sanogo, Heard (Moses 82mins), Cole, Derry, Smith (Soares-Junior 71mins), Ababio (Boachie 89mins). Subs not used: Byron, Walledge.

Referee: Kane Dempster.

Attendance: 557.