Jay Saunders won’t allow his Folkestone players to get carried away with their unbeaten Isthmian Premier start to the season.

Invicta moved into the play-off places on Bank Holiday Monday as they battled to a 2-1 derby victory at Chatham.

It was a third straight win for Folkestone after they started the league campaign with back-to-back draws.

While there are good signs for boss Saunders’ new-look squad, the season is still very much in its infancy.

“We, as a management team, have in our heads where we want to be,” said Saunders. “I’m disappointed.

“I think we should have another two points on the board - so I’ll always ask for a bit more - but the boys have been superb. We won’t get carried away.

“As I’ve just said to them, ‘All you have done is have a good start - that’s it’.

Invicta’s changes reap rewards

Report: Chatham 1-2 Folkestone

“There’s no point having a good start like we have had and then losing your next three or four. We have got to keep them level-headed.

“As a group, I think they will and I’m sure we’ll improve as we go along.”

There is a more youthful feel to Folkestone this term, albeit skipper Kevin Lokko, midfielders Jack Jebb and Dean Rance, alongside striker Ade Yusuff, provide experience.

Saunders said: “I deliberately went younger this year. I felt we probably needed to.

“I’m pleased, although it does put more responsibility on the older ones. Coming here [to Chatham], where it’s a tough environment, to bring a Rancey in - who’s been there and done it - is the plus of it.

“The last two games in midfield before, we’ve had Mikey Berry and Maxx [Manktelow] in midfield, who are both 19, and Donell Thomas is 21.

“It’s young in this league. Don’t get me wrong, Chatham has a young side, as well.

“But to have that experience, and even to bring Jack Jebb off the bench, is good.”

Saunders felt former Football League defender Lokko, 29, had made an error in the build-up to the goal that allowed Chatham to take the lead on Monday.

But he responded as he swept home to complete a fine move just minutes later before Yusuff got the game’s all-important third goal in the second half.

That came after right-back Ben Mason claimed a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory over St Albans at Margate’s Hartsdown Park last Saturday, with the visitors having cancelled out forward Kweku Lucan’s first-half goal before Mason struck.

“Lokko is probably a bit disappointed he hasn’t got a couple more on Monday,” said Saunders, who worked alongside the defender at Maidstone.

“Obviously, I’ve known him a long time and he’s played for me for a long time and I think he’s disappointed with the goal we conceded.

“He’s been faultless, to be honest, and he makes one mistake that gets punished.

“I think he was a bit down but I think that just shows his character. For his goal, it was a really good move. I’m delighted.

“I’ve said to him ‘Make a mistake, puff your chest out and get on with it’ and I know he’ll do that. He’s been a real asset.

“It’s been tough because, really, we’ve been playing without a right-sider.

“Brad [Walledge] has done a really good job but to have Ben back, naturally, that gives us that balance.

"He’s a good player.”

As work to install a new 3G pitch at Cheriton Road continues, Invicta will face Marcel Nimani’s Sevenoaks in the FA Cup first qualifying round at Ashford United this Saturday.

While the Oaks ply their trade a division below Folkestone in Isthmian South East, they can be a dangerous team on their day.

“I know Marcel well,” said Saunders. “I’ve known him a long time and he’s a great guy.

"They always play football and have good players.

“What pleases me is I like to leave the league and head into the cup on the back of the win, which keeps the boys positive.

“We can now go into training this week and plan for it. We’ll show them full respect.

“I know people will say ‘They’re a league below us so it’s a great draw’ but we’re playing at Ashford, so it’s a different ground for us, and it’s tough for the boys.

"That’s why we have got to prepare right.

“We’ll do our homework, like we do with everyone and, hopefully, we’ll go there and get through.”