Folkestone Invicta get an opportunity to pull further clear of the Isthmian Premier Division drop zone tonight.

Invicta, 16th in the table, will go 10 points ahead of fourth-from-bottom visitors Bowers & Pitsea if they beat them and head into the midweek clash after a 3-0 win at home to Horsham.

Joint-head coach Roland Edge said: “Everyone wants to get that little bit of a safety gap. It allows you to play a more relaxed style of football, and that normally leads to better performances and more victories.

“They are hard working and a good attacking side so it won’t be easy.”

While Bowers have drawn seven of their 17 league games so far, Invicta are more win or bust, with just two matches ending level.

Edge knows they need to keep more clean sheets, just like they did at the weekend, if they want to keep progressing.

He said: “The main reason we haven’t been drawing is because we keep conceding too many goals and that has been our main focus for the last couple of weeks.

“We need to stop that and stop it as quickly as we can to give ourselves a chance of climbing up the table.”

Victory on Saturday came thanks to Nathan Green’s opener and a double from Ade Yusuff, his second goal coming from the penalty spot.

“Just in case anyone is reading, he’s rubbish!” joked Edge, when asked about Green’s goalscoring contribution from defence.

“He is a great addition (having joined in the summer) at both ends, and he is probably better offensively.

“In our search for a victory we have probably played him everywhere.

“He is a very good left-back in a four, although he would probably be a better left-sided centre-half position, but we have also played him as a left wing-back.”

Reacting to their weekend win, Edge said: “Horsham were well organised, a good, attacking side, and we knew what we had to do to win and all the boys

did it.”

Credit was also given to Yusuff for his contribution, playing a position he doesn’t favour highly.

Edge said: “He was great and we pushed him out wide at the last minute, before kick-off. We know he doesn’t like that.

“We explained the reason why and when they go out there and they do the things you want, despite the fact that they are not happy, you have a nice guy there haven’t you? You can’t ask for more, his goal was brilliant and he dispatched the penalty perfectly.”

Folkestone are back on the road this Saturday when they travel to Canvey Island.