Joint-boss Roland Edge would like to strengthen Folkestone’s squad - but budget constraints mean the club’s youngsters could see more first-team action.

Invicta sit mid-table in Isthmian Premier, having gone three games without a win now after a six-match unbeaten league run.

Captain Callum Davies and right-back Josh Vincent missed their midweek 2-1 defeat at Hastings through injury and they are also doubts for this Saturday’s trip to Horsham.

While midfielder Scott Heard initially returned from injury off the bench in their weekend 2-1 home defeat to promotion-chasing Hornchurch, winger Kadell Daniel has left the club.

Youngsters Jake Dancer and Lenny Atherton have featured in recent first-team squads and may be given more senior opportunities as things stand.

Edge said: “I don’t think there’s an endless pot we can put our hands into.

“Myself and Mev [joint-head coach Micheal Everitt] are looking at ways to improve without putting our hands into our pockets.

“The youngsters have done well but it’s quite a vital point in our season. We’re looking at getting fifth place.

“We would like to see some new faces but we will see how it goes.”

Guyana international Daniel was a summer signing but found first-team starts harder to come by of late.

Edge said: “To be honest, Kads saw myself and Mev and said ‘I need to get out for some games’. He had been injured a little bit over Christmas and stuff like that.

"We said no problem. Then it materialised that clubs didn’t want to loan him - they wanted to take him.”

He faces a swift reunion with his former team-mates, having signed for Horsham.

“When he said ‘I have an option to go here’, we didn’t want to stand in his way,” said Edge, whose Invicta team are due to visit Cray Wanderers next Wednesday.

“He’s a great lad. But that’s football.”

Edge felt frustrated after Folkestone’s loss to Hornchurch as - for the second time this season - they gave them a real test in front of an 832-strong crowd but ended up empty-handed.

Striker Ade Yusuff converted a first-half penalty after Nathan Bertram-Cooper handled inside the penalty box, before away skipper Rickie Hayles received his second yellow card after the restart for handling Folkestone frontman Ibrahim Olutade’s goal-bound effort outside the area with goalkeeper Joe Wright off his line.

Ellis Brown also appeared offside for the Urchins’ opener and Edge bemoaned: “The officials cost us, to be honest, and it’s sad. But it is what it is.

“They’re a good side and you have to take the rough with the smooth.”

Invicta are now amid a three-match away run.

Edge said: “It’s always nice to be at home. We have some tough away games. Horsham at home is a totally different animal to Horsham away.

“We have to go there with a different mentality. We’ll set up a game plan and try to execute it and take at least a point.

“Then it’s always nice to go back and have your own crowd behind you.”

Invicta lost at Hastings in midweek.

Frontman Ira Jackson gave them a first-half lead but it was 1-1 by half-time and defender Craig Stone's 84th-minute goal won it for the hosts at The Pilot Field. Atherton played the full 90 minutes for Invicta, as Heard made his first start in more than a month.