Roland Edge thinks Folkestone owe title-chasing Isthmian Premier outfit Aveley one this Saturday.

The big matches keep on coming for Invicta, 3-0 home winners over leaders Bishop’s Stortford last weekend through Ira Jackson’s brace and a solitary effort from on-loan striker Louis Collins.

They’re now just outside the play-off places in seventh, albeit having played more games than their promotion rivals, after five wins out of six and three straight clean sheets.

But Aveley only ended a seven-game winning league streak with Saturday’s goalless draw against Carshalton and they eased past Folkestone at Cheriton Road in November.

“They’re in great form and have had a great season,” said joint-boss Edge on Danny Scopes’ third-placed side, who progressed to the Velocity Cup Final on Monday with a 4-2 shoot-out win over Chatham after a 1-1 draw.

“I feel like we owe them. We didn’t play very well at home and lost 5-2.

“That was when we sat the lads down and did a bit of analysis.

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“They’re in form, we’re in form.

"We know how hard it will be but we will give it our best and see what we end up with.”

Scopes has been rewarded for Aveley's form with the February manager-of-the-month award.

Invicta’s recent upturn in fortunes has coincided with the departure of top scorer Ade Yusuff to Hornchurch and Edge feels the whole squad have helped fill the significant void left by him.

“No disrespect to Ade, he was a big player and a big character,” said Edge.

“When he left, we thought ‘Who is going to step up?’ But they all have.

“Louis has come in, and Ibrahim Olutade and Ira have been good all season.

“Then Scott Heard and the other boys in midfield have been good as well.

"Then we’ve been quite strong in defence.”

Jackson’s penalty had put Folkestone ahead against Stortford before he added another after the restart, with Collins making it 3-0.

“It was a fantastic win because they’re a really good side,” enthused Edge, in charge alongside Micheal Everitt.

“They play a totally different game to most of the teams in our league. They’re really strong so we needed to stay switched on - and we were.

“The boys stood up to the test so myself and Mev were really proud of them.”

A crowd of 834 watched on, with away substitute Ben Marlow dismissed without getting on the pitch after an incident with both teams going to the dressing room.

Edge said: “It’s nice. The more people that come, the more they will see the level.

“Sometimes, people see the Premier League and the Football League and they think, below that, it isn’t worth watching.

"So the more that come down to see it, the more that - hopefully - will come back week after week.

“That’s something every club needs.”

It took Collins three matches to get off the mark in an Invicta shirt but he now has two in five after his Bishop’s Stortford strike.

Edge said: “I’m glad Louis has got the goals recently because the way he works for the team makes us so much stronger.

“Sometimes, players like that don’t get in the areas to score.

"But I’m pleased he, not only works hard, he also scores.”

Edge and Everitt were eager for Invicta’s campaign to not peter out and their team remain well in the hunt for a top-five finish.

“We have said to the lads that we want to be there or thereabouts,” said Edge.

“There’s nothing worse than seeing the last six or seven games out without anything to play for. To be fair, the lads have listened to that.

“I know we have played the games in hand, but the nice thing is we still have to play everyone above us.

"We have given ourselves a fighting chance at the death.

“But it would only happen at the death - not in the next two or three games.”