Miles Rutherford, Dabba & H brought in Miles Obodo from Reading into the starting XI up top and Misha Djemaili also got the nod. Otherwise it was Kieran Magee between the sticks alongside the usual back four of skipper Rob Hutchings, Emmett Dunn, Ben Pashley and Jamie Horncastle. Joe Moore, Joe Clarke, Lloyd Rowlatt and Isaac Bello once again began in the middle of the park, with Theo Bennetts, Olly Munt, Curtis Da Costa and Ethan Prichard on the bench.
Chi did the double over Folkestone last season and drew the opening game of the 2025-26 season 1-1 at Oaklands in the reverse fixture and here on another wet afternoon the visitors won the first corner of the match four minutes in after good play from Rowlatt.
Then Montel Mckenzie linked up with Mikey Berry as the home team pressed and a bit of trickery led to a cross which City cleared.
Another delivery was cut out by Magee this time moments later and Berry and No9 Hutchinson got flagged offside on two separate occasions.
Next, Dunn combined with Obodo who won a throw which Bello unsurprisingly launched long before Magee made a fine stop at the other end to deny Berry and concede a corner that the Invicta No7 took.
On 10 minutes the Chichester custodian had to save another shot and did well to intercept Hutchinson’s subsequent threatening cross.
Berry and Pigott combined but the final effort was parried by Magee for a corner which got headed out for another on the other flank by Pashley before Dean Rance fired wide of the mark in the 18th minute as things ebbed and flowed.
Ted Collins then easily denied a weak shot from Bello, and Pashley cleared impressively as the home side ramped it up again.
Hutchings and Berry battled for the ball down the right wing and the first yellow card of the afternoon came on the half hour for Berry’s nasty challenge on the Chi captain.
Collins ballooned one out for a throw on 33 before Pashley tried to pick Bello and Folkestone right back Ben Mason cut inside and had a go which was blocked.
Bello then blazed an attempt over the bar and Horncastle steered Mason’s delivery away and Hutchinson’s cross also didn’t cause any trouble.
A quick counter attack by the Kent side resulted in a shot wide of the post in the 41st minute and a slick move involving Djemaili and the two Joes led to a City corner which Rowlatt floated in and Collins gathered unchallenged.
Next, Hutchings conceded a throw-in up against Pigott before Pashley’s pass towards Obodo was too long and referee David Spain’s whistle brought a goalless but entertaining first half to a close.
Neither side made any changes at the break and after two minutes of the second period left back Mckenzie drove dangerously into the Chi penalty area and forced a corner before Man of the Match Invicta captain Kevin Lokko was felled in the box – no pen according to Mr Spain.
Joel Odeniran was then cautioned for a foul on Obodo, who really shone in his first appearance for Chichester, and Magee claimed a Berry set-piece before the No7 was caught offside.
Dunn conceded a corner needlessly on 54 minutes which Magee convincingly punched away and Clarke made a good block to deny Berry.
Djemaili then crossed looking for Rowlatt although Collins intercepted and the Chi No10 struck a pass with the outside of his boot searching for Obodo.
Rance hit an effort off target and Berry was replaced by Donnel Thomas just ahead of the hour mark before a couple of long Bello throws caused some problems for the Seasiders.
Hutchinson struck one wide on 62 before he did Horncastle and bagged the opener in the 63rd minute tucking the ball beyond Magee.
Rowlatt and Obodo might both have equalised moments later and the visitors earned a corner thanks to Bello’s endeavours.
The hosts then broke swiftly and Hutchinson blazed a shot over this time before Magee was lucky to get away with just a yellow card for something he said to the ref and Horncastle saved one on the line.
Dolan came on for Rance with 21 minutes of normal time to go and Mckenzie had a cross cleared before Hutchings’ effort was deflected for a Chichester corner.
Munt then replaced Horncastle as Chi shuffled the pack and Hutchinson was withdrawn for Ade Yusuff.
On 78 Collins claimed Hutchings’ cross without any problem and neat stuff from Obodo led to a Chichester corner that got headed clear.
A rapid break from sub Thomas instigated the home side’s second goal through Pigott in the 80th minute to make it 2-0.
Dunn was booked; Clarke was exchanged for Bennetts; and a mistake by Pashley almost allowed the hosts to get in again but Magee hacked the ball away.
As we entered five minutes of additional time Djemaili headed a corner over that he should have got on target and Folkestone sub Dolan’s spectacular strike into the right hand corner of the net from some way out wrapped things up.
So, that’s seven straight wins for Folkestone who are top of the table by six points while Chi are three points above the relegation zone after firing blanks now in four of their last six games.
City welcome Chatham Town, who sit fourth in the league, to Oaklands on Tuesday 2nd December (Kick Off 7:45pm).
Chichester – Magee, Dunn, Hutchings, Moore, Horncastle, Pashley, Bello, Clarke, Rowlatt, Obodo, Djemaili (Bennetts, Da Costa, Munt, Prichard).
Photos and YouTube highlights to follow.
