Folkestone Invicta boss Jay Saunders baffled how his side conceded first goal during derby 4-2 FA Cup second qualifying round away defeat against Dover Athletic

Manager Jay Saunders was left baffled as to how Folkestone conceded their first goal during the derby defeat at Dover Athletic on Saturday.

Saunders’ side were knocked out of the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage by National League South neighbours as it finished 4-2 in front of a crowd of 2,342 at Crabble.

Forward Aaron Cosgrave had given Invicta the lead, only for keeper Ted Collins to fail to keep out midfielder Jack Bates’ shot minutes later. Nevertheless, midfielder Alejandro Machado ensured Folkestone still held a half-time advantage but three unanswered second-half goals from the hosts made the difference.

Saunders conceded his troops presently are a 45-minute team as their winless streak stretched to four matches.

Asked why that is, Saunders replied: “We wouldn’t be if I knew!

“I thought we were really good in the first half. The goal we concede, it’s a disgrace from our point of view.

"Ted has to save that. Honestly, I cannot get how it goes in.

“Dover are a team - not being horrible in any way - but they’re a team that are more dangerous without the ball than they are with it. When you’re in attack, they leave people up and they break really fast, and you have to be aware of that.

“They’ve broken and, the shot, I think I could have saved that, to be honest with you! Ted knows that - he knows my feelings on it.

“But we get ourselves back in front, controlling the game and causing problems. We probably could have had another couple, maybe another one or two, but we don’t take them (those chances). Then, we came out for the second half and just, from the off, we never got the tempo going.

“There’s a few bits and bobs going on inside the camp but I’m not going to stand here and make excuses. Whether that