Folkestone Invicta manager Jay Saunders expects his team’s defence to get stiff examination in National League South game at Slough Town this weekend with visit of Hemel Hempstead Town also on horizon

Jay Saunders expects Folkestone Invicta's defence to get a stiff examination this Saturday.

Invicta, who have enjoyed a bright start to life at National League South with five points from three league games, are preparing for a busy spell.

They follow-up a trip to Slough Town when, two days later, they host Hemel Hempstead before they travel to Torquay the day before next weekend’s match with the Gulls.

Slough are yet to pick up their first point this season - and have already suffered two 5-3 losses - but have already shown plenty of attacking prowess under Ashford-born former Gillingham keeper Alan Julian.

“We know their gaffer,” said Invicta boss Saunders, who hopes to add to his forward ranks this week after striker Joe Pigott converted a second-half penalty in last weekend’s 1-1 home draw against Chelmsford City.

“He’s a great lad and they try to play some good stuff. Going forward, they can cause you a lot of problems so we need to make sure we’re right on that side of things and don’t concede sloppy goals.

“If we can get a couple of bodies back and a couple of forwards in, I think we can cause teams problems.

"First half, we caused problems on Saturday - we did at Maidstone - but we have to take those chances. That’s the difference.

“Last year, we missed chances and said ‘It’s okay, we will get another three or four chances in the game’. Here, you’re getting one or two - maybe three or four - and that’s it.

“We had a water break on Saturday and I said to Donell [Thomas] that’s the difference at this level. You have to take your chances when they come.

“They’re the little things we’re noticing but we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s a busy weekend for us, with Slough, then Hemel on Monday and we travel to Torquay next Friday, so it doesn’t get any easier.

"We will have a week of training and go from there.”

While it’s an inaugural National League South season for Folkestone, Saunders left Tonbridge Angels to move to Invicta on a four-year deal in May 2025 and also has managed in the division at Maidstone United.

When asked if he had noticed the step up in quality, Saunders replied: “Of course, you do and you notice the fitness levels.

“I didn’t notice it so much on Saturday where both teams tired. It was another hot day.

"We had a game on Tuesday, they didn’t have a game, so I was quite pleased with our fitness levels.

“But the tempo of it in the last 20 minutes against full-time teams, we noticed it against Maidstone with the quality.

“There are little things like the refereeing decisions. A lot of stuff was given last year that they’re not giving now - and they’re coming up with crazy excuses!

“It’s frustrating but it’s the same for everyone. We just have to keep going.

“I’ve always said we will get 10 games in and see where the squad is at, what we feel we can achieve, and what players can handle the level - and who can’t.

"I’m really enjoying it.

“It’s great to be back at the level and you can see the standard of football is a lot better.”