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Folkestone Invicta joint-head coach Roland Edge says 1-1 Isthmian Premier draw against Billericay Town shows how far side have come
05:00, 19 January 2023
updated: 18:28, 21 January 2023
Roland Edge reckons Folkestone’s point against Billericay shows just how far the side have come.
Invicta battled back from a goal down on Saturday at Cheriton Road to earn a 1-1 draw, with frontman Ibrahim Olutade netting his 10th goal this season.
But joint-head coach Edge felt they were unlucky not to take all three points.
“It shows that we have come a long way,” he said.
“Billericay are a good side, they have a lot of quality all over the pitch.
“The pitch wasn’t fantastic but, maybe, that’s a bit of home advantage. We know how to play it better.
“It was a good game. Those that came and watched would have left happy.
“The only 15 or 16 or so that weren’t probably were us because we did deserve to take the three points.”
The result extended Invicta’s unbeaten Isthmian Premier run to five matches and Edge thinks they have earned the right to now be looking up the table, rather than over their shoulders.
“I think, over the Christmas period, the players have earned the right to talk about things other than trouble,” said Edge, whose 13th-placed side saw their scheduled home match on Tuesday against Enfield postponed after a pitch inspection.
“We deserve to look up and think ‘It’s do-able’ [getting into the play-offs].
“We have some of the big boys to play and, when you play the big boys, if you get points off them, then you can talk about finishing in the top five.
“If you look at the middle of the table, it’s unbelievably tight.
“We needed points to get away from the bottom four before Christmas. Now we’re there, Lewes are there and Billericay are there.
“Normally, someone from the middle and someone from the bottom goes on a run. Teams are so equal in this league.
“Hornchurch and Bishop’s Stortford have a little more than the rest but, as for everyone else, they can beat everyone else on their day.”
The Billericay game also saw Ronnie Dolan make his 300th club appearance and Edge praised the midfielder, whose younger brother, Robbie, is also part of the squad.
He said: “Ronnie is a little bit of an unsung hero.
“He brings quality to our midfield.”
Meanwhile Edge feels second-choice goalkeeper Joe Coleman is a great role model for the youngsters at the club aiming to get first-team opportunities.
“Joe is a great role model for any youngsters trying to get into the first-team,” he said.
“It’s about the attitude side of things.”
Coleman replaced Pat Ohman in a Boxing Day win at Herne Bay before starting as Invicta beat Margate. While Ohman has got the No.1 spot back, it’s clear Coleman also is thought of highly.
Edge added: “The hardest part is waiting for your chance and Joe does it so elegantly.”
This Saturday, Invicta will host Haringey.
When they met in London in November, Haringey were 3-0 winners.
Folkestone’s under-19s will visit K Sports in the last 16 of the Kent Intermediate Cup on Monday, February 13.