Match Preview: Folkestone (A) FA Trophy 2nd Round - 15th November 2025

Photo courtesy of Harvey Gerring

By Josh Cole

AFC Totton's Izuzu FA Trophy campaign begins with a trip to the south-east of Kent to play against Folkestone Invicta.

Last time out The Stags were beaten away in Worthing in the league. Read the match report from that game by clicking here.

You can also watch the interviews with Jimmy Ball and Scott Rendell after last Tuesday’s defeat to hear how they summed up that game and how we are looking to bounce back.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

Invicta are absolutely flying in the Isthmian Premier Division, which is one step below Totton. They are currently top of the league with 36 points from 15 games.

They started their league campaign with two 1-1 draws away against Chichester and Cray Wanderers, before then winning seven games in a row, five in the league, including two in the FA Cup, one of which was against fellow National League South opposition, Maidstone United which saw them progress into the third qualifying round.

Their first loss of 2025/26 came in the Kent Senior Cup as they were knocked out on penalties against VCD Athletic. Three more cup games followed as in the FA Cup third qualifying round Folkestone were drawn against another NLS team in Horsham, and away from home they won 2-3.

Their FA Trophy campaign started in the third qualifying round with a 1-3 win away at AFC Dunstable. In the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, they were beaten by Southend, 4-1.

Folkestone were finally back to the league with two games seeing them draw 2-2 away at Dulwich Hamlet and win 6-0 at home against Lewes. In the first round of the FA Trophy, Folkestone beat Burgess Hill Town to progress through to face AFC Totton in the second round.

At the end of October, Folkestone experienced their first, and only loss of the league season with a 2-1 defeat away at Hashtag United. In their last four games they have won all four in the league, including an 8-1 win at home against Cray Wanderers on Tuesday night, who were sat in 6^th place before the game.

JOURNEY TO THIS STAGE

FOLKESTONE:

3QR: AFC Dunstable (Step four of non-league) 1-3 Folkestone

Goalscorers: Mikey Berry 21’, Jake Hutchinson 25’ & Joe Pigott 40’

1R: Burgess Hill Town (Step three of non league) 1-4 Folkestone

Goalscorers: Jake Hutchinson 2’ 90’ PEN, Josh Strouts 15’ & Jack Jebb 36’

LAST FIVE: FOLKESTONE

(Most recent result first)

Vs Cray Wanderers | Home | IPD | Won 8-1

Goalscorers: Jake Hutchinson 14’ 64’ 83’, Ben Mason 16’ 19’ 44’ & Joe Pigott 28’ 47’

Vs Potters Bar | Away | IPD | Won 0-3

Goalscorers: Joe Pigott 29’, Dean Rance 42’ & Ade Yusuff 83’

Vs Welling United | Away | IPD | Won 0-3

Goalscorers: Dean Rance 17’, Mikey Berry 72’ & Joe Pigott 82’

Vs Billericay Town | Home | IPD | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Dean Rance 19’ & Jake Hutchinson 62’

Vs Hashtag United | Away | IPD | Lost 2-1

Goalscorer: Dean Rance 86’

LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON

Vs Worthing | Away | ENLS | Lost 4-0

Vs Ebbsfleet United | Home | ENLS | Lost 0-2

Vs Maidenhead United | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Joe Oastler 24’ & Christie Ward 70’

Vs Macclesfield FC | Away | FA Cup 1^st Round Proper | Lost 6-3

Goalscorers: Tony Lee 9’ & Scott Rendell 17’ 27’

Vs Chelmsford City | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Tony Lee 3’ & Christie Ward 20’

COMPARING THE STATS (all comps)

OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH

DEFENCE: Ben Mason

Ben Mason began his career with AFC Wimbledon, where he captained the academy side to victory in the EFL Youth Alliance South East.

He signed his first professional contract with Wimbledon in 2022, and gained senior experience through loan spells at Basingstoke Town, Braintree Town, and Farnborough.

After leaving Wimbledon in 2024, he rejoined Farnborough on a permanent deal before spending time on loan with his hometown club Chertsey Town. He later featured for Hemel Hempstead Town and finished the 2024/25 season with Dulwich Hamlet in the Isthmian Premier Division.

In the summer of 2025, he signed for Folkestone Invicta and so far has appeared in 19 games, making 17 starts and scoring six goals.

MIDFIELD: Dean Rance

Dean Rance is a midfielder who began his career with Gillingham, joining the club’s academy at the age of eight. He finished the 2009/10 season as top goalscorer for Gillingham U18 and signed his first professional contract in May 2010, though his progress was hampered by a pre-season injury.

He gained senior experience through loan spells with Maidstone United and Bishop’s Stortford during 2010 and 2011, before making his Gillingham first-team debut in an FA Cup tie against Bournemouth in November 2011. He left the club in the summer of 2012.

In 2013, he joined Ebbsfleet United, where he became a key figure over six seasons, winning the Players’ Player of the Season award in 2013/14 and helping the club secure promotion to the National League alongside Andy Drury. He made 234 appearances for Ebbsfleet before departing in 2019.

He spent the 2019/20 season with Aldershot Town, followed by three years at Dagenham & Redbridge, and ended the 2022/23 campaign with Scunthorpe United.

In January 2024, he joined Folkestone Invicta on an initial one-month loan from Scunthorpe, making his debut against Haringey Borough. He went on to make 16 appearances before the end of the season and signed permanently for Invicta in May 2024 following the expiration of his Scunthorpe contract. He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 win against Canvey Island in January 2025. He has since scored three more goals and in his 24 appearances made for Folkestone this season (which includes pre-season), only one hasn’t been a start.

ATTACK: Jake Hutchinson

Jake began his career in the youth systems of Brighton & Hove Albion and Colchester United. During his time with Colchester, he gained senior experience through loan spells with Tonbridge Angels, Eastbourne Borough, and Aldershot Town.

After leaving Colchester in 2023, he moved to Scotland to join Queen of the South. He returned to Eastbourne Borough on loan for the second half of the 2023/24 season before returning to England permanently with Worthing in the summer of 2024.

He spent the latter part of the 2024/25 campaign with Enfield Town, later joining Hitchin Town on loan for the final month of the season.

In the summer of 2025, he signed for Folkestone Invicta, scoring on his debut in a 1–1 draw with Chichester City on the opening day of the 2025/26 season. In this season so far he has scored 20 goals.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Dan Blades

Assistant: Bradley Mingay

Assistant: Michael Butcher

GO STAGS