Joint-boss Micheal Everitt was pleased to see the hard work on the training ground pay off during Folkestone’s Isthmian Premier victory at Lewes.

They inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Tony Russell’s outfit last weekend, just seven days after Lewes had eased past big-spending Southern Counties East Premier Division Faversham 4-0 in the FA Cup.

Goals from David Smith and Ibrahim Olutade put the visitors in command before Ira Jackson again came off the bench to score.

Everitt, who saw Lewes grab a consolation shortly after Jackson’s effort, said: “The third goal doesn’t look the best. But we worked on things last Tuesday.

“We got the front five in as an attacking unit and talked about the things we can improve and what we needed to do to make better decisions.

“To be fair, the third goal was a real example of what we’ve been working on and what we’ve been talking about.

“Credit to the players for implementing the plan and listening to what we wanted them to do.”

Smith’s goal was also only his second competitive one of the campaign.

“He now looks like he’s back somewhere near the form that got him to Bromley the first time he was here,” Everitt added.

Lewes proved no match for Folkestone on the day, with the Kent club now only a point behind them in the league table.

Everitt reflected: “I would say that it was a good all-round performance, everybody was a seven or eight out of 10. Everybody knew their job and what they had to do.

“We had a plan and we implemented that plan. I don’t think there was one player that stood out in particular, I thought it was a real collective effort.

“You have to have that when you play against the better sides in this league, otherwise you don’t get three points.

“I think it was a deserved win against a good side.”

The result had been a third successive triumph for Folkestone, who have moved to sign goalkeeper Josh Strizovic on a one-month loan from National League Dagenham & Redbridge with Joe Coleman unavailable for a spell soon due to work commitments.

Everitt warned: “It’s really early days.

“There’s a lot of positive things but still things to work on, which is good. We’re a bit disappointed overall because we think we should have had a couple more points.

“But it’s been a decent start.”

Invicta visit Margate in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round this Saturday, having beaten them 2-0 at home in the league last month. Both head into the cup clash in reasonable form.

But Everitt said: “Form goes out the window in FA Cup games and derby games anyway. It’s all about what happens on the day.

“It should be a good game between two good sides.

“Ever since the draw got made, we’ve had no doubt how tough it’s going to be.”

Everitt expects plenty of Invicta’s fans to make the short trip for the game at Hartsdown Park, which should attract a bumper crowd.

He said: “Our supporters, they travel up and down the country with us, so we’ll know that we’ll have a big following.

“The last time we played at Margate, the support we got from them was amazing.

“I think they’ll come over and back us and, hopefully, we can get through to the next round of the FA Cup. They’ll be part of the reason why.”

The victors will pocket £3,375.

A much-changed Invicta side were beaten 5-0 at home to Chatham in the Kent Senior Cup First Round on Tuesday.