Chatham Town midfielder Jordy Robins reacts to 2-1 Isthmian Premier derby win at frontrunners Folkestone Invicta

Midfielder Jordy Robins felt Chatham’s fast start was key to their Isthmian Premier derby victory at leaders Folkestone on Saturday.

After ending 2025 with back-to-back defeats, teenage forward Sam Sene-Richardson’s goal inside the first 20 minutes put Chats on their way to a 2-1 win before midfielder Kian Moynes added a second to leave home defender Ben Mason’s injury-time goal a mere consolation.

Chatham had conceded twice in the first 10 minutes of their 2-1 home loss to Dartford seven days before their visit to Jay Saunders’ side - something Robins was keen to avoid a repeat of.

“It was a bit of quality from Sam,” said Robins, who came off the substitutes’ bench in last midweek’s 1-0 Velocity Cup fourth-round exit at Isthmian South East Crowborough, on their opening goal.

“Something we focused on today was having a fast start. Last week, we came out of the blocks a little bit too slow and it cost us, and we found ourselves 2-0 down early.

“So, we wanted to make sure we were really solid at the start, did the basics well and made sure we had a lot of intensity which, luckily enough, we did.”

While Invicta had looked brighter after the restart, Moynes made it 2-0 to Chatham when he slammed home after keeper Ted Collins could only parry Australian wideman Matty MacArthur’s left-wing cross.

Robins said: “You saw in the last five minutes, with the onslaught, what happens when it became a one-goal game, so we knew getting the second goal was going to be important.

“Once we got that opportunity, we were able to take that chance and give ourselves a bit of a safety blanket - at least until the 93rd minute!”

The result did help close the gap between Chats and frontrunners Folkestone, albeit the Medway outfit are still some 14