Folkestone Invicta 2 Potters Bar Town 1 match report: Table-topping Invicta move another step towards Isthmian Premier title as double by top scorer Jake Hutchinson inspires comeback victory

Two-goal Jake Hutchinson helped move leaders Folkestone Invicta another step towards the Isthmian Premier title with a comeback home win over relegation-threatened Potters Bar on Saturday.

It proved a hard-fought victory for Invicta, who had to come from behind after Nana Kyei put the plucky away team ahead in the second half.

But top scorer Hutchinson, 23, scored twice inside six minutes to move to 22 goals for this campaign and to get Invicta to within 13 points of an inaugural National League South promotion as it ended 2-1 at Cheriton Road.

Invicta created the first opportunity as entertaining keeper Borja Loeches comfortably gathered a Montel McKenzie effort in the first three minutes in front of a 1,259-strong crowd.

A minute later, Folkestone captain Kevin Lokko nodded over a free header from fellow defender Sam German’s right-wing delivery.

But Sammy Moore’s Potters Bar side enjoyed the best opening of the early exchanges.

A combination of goalkeeper Ted Collins and 21-year-old German combined to keep out forward Brandon Adams' effort from a drag-back by right-back Dylan Adjei-Hersey with 15 minutes played.

At the other end, Joe Pigott bent wide of Loeches’ left-hand post from a pass by fellow forward Hutchinson midway through the first half.

Jay Saunders’ men then felt they had broken the deadlock, only for defender Joel Odeniran to send his close-range header from a Ryan Kingsford corner against the crossbar.

Potters Bar - who boosted their survival prospects with a 2-1 home triumph against Carshalton last weekend - had another chance in first-half stoppage time, but midfielder Giuseppe Re’s long-range shot failed to hit the target.

Eight minutes after the break, the visitors had the best chance of the contest so far.

Kyei blasted wide of Collins’ right-hand post when he should have at least hit the target.

But the hosts’ let-off proved short-lived as Kyei sent Potters Bar in front.

The attacking midfielder got the final touch on a low right-wing cross, pipping Ben Mason to the loose ball, as his effort beat Collins and squirmed into the bottom corner.

Josh Strouts and Donell Thomas were brought off the Folkestone substitutes’ bench for Kingsford and McKenzie straight after they had fallen behind.

As they began to sit behind the ball, the away side came close to a second when Collins was forced to thwart Adams with an acrobatic overhead kick.

But Invicta were handed an absolute gift of a leveller.

Loeches inexplicably dropped a right-wing cross into the path of Pigott and, although 32-year-old Pigott couldn’t finish, Hutchinson hammered into the roof of the net.

Loeches was absolutely furious and desperately pleaded with referee Peter Conn to give an away free-kick but he seemed to have very little case.

And with 18 minutes to play, Hutchinson got a second for himself - and his team - for the afternoon to complete the turnaround.

He netted a lovely right-wing cross from substitute Thomas to move Folkestone another giant stride towards winning the title.

The hosts then came close to a third with two opportunities in quick succession in the 77th minute.

He was initially thwarted by Loeches from Bromley loanee German’s long ball before he expertly tipped a German header against the crossbar.

Re went close to a second for the visitors on 87 minutes but Collins, 23, diverted his deflected strike wide before he was also equal to a shot from substitute Ruben Kilbrom.

In stoppage time, Strouts saw his effort come back off Loeches’ left-hand post after he had been played through by a high ball from German, although it didn’t matter in the end.

Home manager Saunders had made two changes from the starting line-up that suffered last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at in-form Billericay.

With defender Liam Smith suspended, German replaced him while Kingsford came in for Thomas in midfield.

There was also a place on the substitutes’ bench for Strouts after his loan stint at red-hot Isthmian South East side Deal Town.

Invicta will host Dartford in a derby next Saturday.

Folkestone Invicta: Collins, Mason, McKenzie (Thomas 56mins), Odeniran, Lokko, Kingsford (Strouts 56mins), Hutchinson (Berry 93mins), Pigott, Lovatt, Woodyard, German. Subs not used: Earle, Dolan.

Potters Bar Town: Leoches, Adjei-Hersey, Guzynski (Young 84mins), Halenin, Kpekawa, Kpohomouh, Re, Blackman (Akinwande 80mins) Adams (Kiwomya 70mins), Kyei (Kilbrom 80mins), Anyadike (Brown-Johnson 80mins).

Referee: Peter Conn.

Attendance: 1,259.