Folkestone Invicta 1 Brentwood Town 0 match report: Jay Saunders’ side nine points clear at Isthmian Premier summit as substitute Ade Yusuff converts second-half penalty at Cheriton Road

A penalty by substitute Ade Yusuff ensured Folkestone were deserved winners in their top-of-the-table Isthmian Premier match against Brentwood on Saturday.

It had been a frustrating game for Invicta, who had wasted lots of good opportunities, until Yusuff converted a spot-kick that he had won himself midway through the second half as it ended 1-0 despite fellow forward Jake Hutchinson having been the most wasteful of their players.

The result leaves Folkestone nine points clear and with a fixture in hand after an eighth straight league victory.

Brentwood’s top scorer, Daniel Ogunleye, had been controversially cautioned by referee Harry Phillips inside 30 seconds as he came together with the on-rushing goalkeeper Ted Collins at Cheriton Road.

The 11th minute saw visiting keeper Melvin Minter called into action as he tipped over a 20-yard shot from midfielder Adam Lovatt on a cold day.

Seven minutes later, teenage Invicta midfielder Mikey Berry found team-mate Hutchinson, who had scored 13 goals in 19 games before kick-off, only for the in-form forward to see his shot clip Minter’s left-hand post.

Hutchinson, 23, rounded Minter but captain Matthew Cripps made a magnificent goal-line clearance to again deny him.

While the Essex outfit had been second-best for much of the match, they went close twice in quick succession through forward Kymani Thomas, previously of Ebbsfleet and Herne Bay, and midfielder Charles Edwards.

Home wing-back Ben Mason threatened in first-half injury time but his left-wing cross flashed across goal.

Folkestone again really should have scored with 49 minutes played.

Ike Orji stood up a cross from the right flank that was headed against the crossbar by Joe Pigott at the far post, with strike partner