Joint-head coach Micheal Everitt knows better than to write off Folkestone’s struggling weekend hosts - just ask some of the sides gunning for promotion!

Invicta, 2-1 weekend winners at home to Haringey, this Saturday travel to Brightlingsea, who have conceded the most goals in Isthmian Premier and have the worst goal difference, which has left them at the foot of the table.

But they did start 2023 with a 2-0 home success over high-flying Bishop’s Stortford, while they’ve also drawn 1-1 with frontrunners Hornchurch this season, too.

An upturn in fortunes has moved Folkestone just outside the play-offs in ninth but Everitt knows they cannot afford to let their performance levels drop.

Everitt said: “We’ve got a big game on Saturday at Brightlingsea. That’s going to be another really tough game.

“At their place, they’ve already taken points this season off Lewes, Hornchurch and Bishop’s Stortford.

“As I’ve said before, there’s no easy games in this league so we’ll need to be right at it.

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“Any team in this league is capable of beating anyone and they’re a good example of that. I can’t imagine there’s many leagues where bottom beats top. It was 2-0 [against Bishop’s Stortford] and I heard it was a deserved win.

“We’ll have to prepare the lads for that but, as a group, we’re in a different place now.

"We’ll get a game plan together and try to get another three points.”

Invicta have now gone six league fixtures without defeat and, having only conceded four times in that run, Everitt praised keeper Pat Ohman and his backline for their recent displays.

“Pat made a couple of decent - I wouldn’t say saves - but he came out and dived at their feet at important times in the game on Saturday,” he said. “He looked assured.

“It does take the pressure off the back four when you’ve got someone that’s prepared to come out, be brave and put his body in the way.

“As a group, we’ve tried to address the defensive errors that we were making. You can see that’s definitely having an impact.

“With the chances we create, I do think someday soon there is going to be someone who will take a bit of a hiding because we will be a bit more clinical.

“The previous week [in a 1-1 draw against Billericay], I don’t think I’d been involved in a game where a team makes so many chances, but it should be looked on as a positive that we are making these chances.

“If we weren’t, we would be worried.

“But the fact remains we are and, with ourselves looking more solid at the other end, that explains why we’ve hit a bit of form.”

Ian Draycott’s 150th club goal earned the hosts the points against Haringey at Cheriton Road in front of a bumper crowd of 902. His second-half strike proved the difference between the teams after defender Ian Gayle had cancelled out Borough’s opener.

On Draycott reaching his latest milestone, Everitt said: “I didn’t realise!

“But he deserves it. He’s another one who put an unbelievable shift in.

“He deserved his goal and I’m really pleased for him and it was at a good time as well, although, of course, any goal is at a good time.”

Invicta will still be without the suspended James Rogers at Brightlingsea but fellow midfielder Scott Heard could return from a foot injury.

Everitt said: “We are hoping Heardy will be back. He came in last Saturday for a bit of treatment.

“To be fair, he did it against Margate. I’ve seen the pictures of what the tackle did and thought it was a bit naughty at the time.

"It really was swollen and it’s taken a little bit longer than we thought.

“But we have a decent squad, and Draycs and Ronnie Dolan have done an excellent job in there.”

Folkestone had been due to host Enfield last Tuesday but the match was called off.

That fixture has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 21.