Patience has paid off in Folkestone’s squad rebuild, manager Andy Drury has suggested.

The play-off chasing Isthmian Premier side beat Canvey Island 4-2 at home last weekend.

Striker Ade Yusuff bagged a hat-trick while midfielder Dean Rance also struck.

There was a substitute appearance for fit-again left-back Nathan Green - another to have rejoined Folkestone, like Yusuff - while ex-Dartford midfielder Luke Allen started on his debut.

“We have been building all season,” said Drury. “Sometimes, there’s players that you can’t get in the summer who become available.

“You take them and they improve the squad and, unfortunately, you have to get rid of one or two.

“Luke Allen came in on Saturday and I felt he was really good. He did everything which a good centre midfielder should do.

Invicta hat-trick hero makes team-of-the-week

"His energy was fantastic, he was anticipating balls, he was keeping the ball, getting forward and getting shots off, joining in with Ade.

“These kinds of players have added something different to us. We’ve always been building towards a team and squad that you’re really happy with.

“It’s probably taken longer than what we had hoped, but we’re pretty much there.

“I’m pretty sure, over the next year-and-a-half, the club has got a really good chance of getting promoted with this squad.”

Allen, 31, joined last week. He spent five years with the Darts before departing for Aveley last summer.

Drury said: “I’ve played against Luke and coached him a bit. That was when I was helping out Kingy (then-boss Steve King) at Dartford.

“I think everyone who was there on Saturday could see what Luke is going to bring to us.

“He’s a very good player for this level. He adds a good balance to our midfield.

“Rancey and Amadou [Kassarate] can sit, and Jebby (Jack Jebb) is more of a playmaker, and Luke gives us that attacking threat, as well, so I think we have finally found the right balance in the middle of the park.

“It just takes time to get the squad how you want it.

“It cannot always be done in one summer. Some teams who have got out of this league had been building for two, three or four years.

“With Hornchurch, it took them four years to get out of the league with a good squad. That’s kind of where we’re at.

“Hopefully, we can make the play-offs this year and I think we have got a decent chance if we can keep everyone fit.

“If not, this squad has got a really good chance next year.”

Yusuff’s hat-trick was his first for Folkestone at home, despite being the club’s third all-time leading scorer.

Drury admitted: “That’s a bit crazy, really. Ade did well and took his goals well.

“He got tired in the last five or 10 minutes when he was on the pitch but, all in all, he did what he was brought back to the club to do.

“He’s not fully fit - he’s probably five or six games away from being up to speed - but you can see what he does.”

With the points in the bag, Green replaced Frankie Morgan in the 70th minute as he steps up his injury return.

“He only went back into full training last Tuesday so we were always going to just give him 10 or 15 minutes or so,” said Drury.

“I think he came on at 4-1 and we just decided to give him 20 minutes so he could get more minutes in his legs with them down to 10 men. He got a bit of space on the left where they didn’t have anyone out there.

“I was pleased Greeny came on and hopefully, the same as Ade, he will go from strength-to-strength as he starts to get more games.”

Yusuff’s first two goals against Canvey Island gave Invicta a 2-0 half-time lead.

Rance then made it 3-0 after Tobi Tinubu had been sent off for the visitors and, although captain Ian Gayle put through his own net, Yusuff restored the three-goal cushion.

Emmanuel Adebiyi got a consolation second for Canvey on 79 minutes.

Invicta were, however, forced into a first-half change. Marvel Ekpiteta (leg) added to their defensive injury woes, with Joe Tyrie (ankle) also set for a spell out.

Drury said: “Joe’s going to be out for a while.

"Obviously, we have still got Joel [Odeniran] out on loan at Herne Bay for another week or so.

“Amadou can do a job back there if he’s needed, but we would prefer him in midfield.

“We’ll see how Marv is and where we go with that.”

Next up for Invicta is the visit of promotion-chasing Horsham, on an eight-match winning run, on Saturday.