Joint-head coach Roland Edge says Folkestone Invicta owe Aveley one after 5-2 loss to them at Cheriton Road

Roland Edge thinks Folkestone owe title-chasing Isthmian Premier outfit Aveley one this Saturday.

The big matches keep on coming for Invicta, 3-0 home winners over leaders Bishop’s Stortford last weekend through Ira Jackson’s brace and a solitary strike from on-loan striker Louis Collins.

They’re now just outside the play-off places in seventh, albeit having played more games than their promotion rivals, after five wins out of six and three straight clean sheets.

But Aveley only ended a seven-game winning league streak with Saturday’s goalless draw against Carshalton and they eased past Folkestone at Cheriton Road in November.

“They’re in great form and have had a great season,” said joint-boss Edge on Danny Scopes’ side, who progressed to the Velocity Cup Final on Monday with a 4-2 shoot-out win over Chatham after a 1-1 draw.

“I feel like we owe them. We didn’t play very well at home and lost 5-2.

“That was when we sat the lads down and did a bit of analysis.

“They’re in form, we’re in form.

"We know how hard it will be but we will give it our best and see what we end up with.”

Invicta’s recent upturn in fortunes has coincided with the departure of top scorer Ade Yusuff to Hornchurch and Edge feels the whole squad have helped fill the significant void left by him.

“No disrespect to Ade, he was a big player and a big character,” said Edge.

“When he left, we thought ‘Who is going to step up?’ But they all have.

“Louis has come in and Ibrahim Olutade and Ira [Jackson] have been good all season.

“Then Scott Heard and the other boys in midfield have been good as well.

"Then we’ve been quite strong in defence.”

Jackson’s penalty had put Folkestone ahead against Stortford before he added another after the restart, with Collins