Folkestone Invicta manager Jay Saunders reacts to 2-1 Isthmian Premier derby defeat to Chatham Town that finishes leaders’ 12-match winning league run

Jay Saunders concedes Folkestone didn’t deserve anything from their home derby against fellow promotion-chasing Isthmian Premier side Chatham on Saturday.

Table-topping Invicta’s 12-match winning league run ended as goals from young forward Sam Sene-Richardson and midfielder Kian Moynes left defender Ben Mason’s injury-time effort a mere consolation as it finished 2-1 to the third-placed Chats on a cold day.

Folkestone manager Saunders had started the match with forwards Joe Pigott and Donell Thomas, alongside midfielder Adam Lovatt, unavailable while striker Ade Yusuff also came off in the first half.

Saunders reflected: “Chatham deserved to win the game, to be honest. I don’t think we started the game well enough and we didn’t really get going.

“You have to give the opposition credit, sometimes, and there’s not too many times I have said this, this year, we were not at it. But it’s difficult to start games poorly and then get yourselves into them.

“I felt that was the case today. I’m disappointed in the two goals we have given away.

“They were both avoidable from our point of view, especially the second one - the second one is a terrible goal to concede - and, not saying we deserved something out of the game but, if we don’t concede that, maybe you come away with a point out of the game and say ‘That’s a bad day at the office (but at least we didn't lose).’.

“But it is what it is and we have to move on.”

Yusuff, 31, collided with Chatham captain Reece Butler in the 25th minute and was eventually stretchered off after nearly a 10-minute delay.

“He was knocked out,” confirmed Saunders. “Hopefully, he is all right and I’ll get in touch with him.

“We now lose him for three weeks. With Pigs being out as well, that’s not