The Milton Road revival continued on Saturday as City overcame relegation haunted Folkestone Invicta to record a third successive double in as many weeks and give new manager Gary Roberts the perfect start to his City tenure. Despite the scoreline, this was no walk in the park and Folkestone made City battle hard all the way, even when they were reduced to ten men in the second half.

City named an unchanged starting line-up from that which toppled Tiverton last weekend, the only change being on the bench where Adie Hayes replaced Leon Gutzmore.

Both sides started brightly with City threatening early on. On seven minutes the visitors turned defence into attack as Robbie Simpson expertly held off his marker before sending Danny Bloomfield sprinting up the flank, Folkestone's Mike Azzopardi did extremely well to clear Bloomfield's low centre from just in front of goal. Sixty seconds later and Folkestone, still looking for their first home win of the season, were given a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty. Tricky winger John Ayling rode a tackle from Che Wilson on the edge of the box, burst into the area and was felled as Wilson had a second bite of the cherry. Up stepped Invicta's top scorer Allan Tait who sent Martin Davies the wrong way but saw his shot hit the post. He instinctively knocked in the rebound but the 'goal' was ruled out as no other player had touched the ball.

Boosted by this escape, City pressed forward with Simpson at the centre of things. It was his tenacious battling that won a 13th minute corner from which Dan Huggins drove a foot over the angle of post and crossbar following a weak clearance by the home defence. From the goal-kick Folkestone hit back. Matt Clements attempted tackle only succeeded in sending Tait through, under pressure he got his shot away forcing Davies to produce a smart save to turn the ball into the side netting.

Both sides produced some good football on a tricky surface, but all too often good approach play was let down by a poor final ball, but shortly after the half hour City did manage to break the deadlock. A free-kick was awarded out on the left wing after a foul on Simpson, Rob Nightingale's cross was partially cleared only as far as Clements, he picked out Bloomfield who was hauled to the ground by Scott Daniels. Nightingale made no mistake from the spot, sending Maurice Munden the wrong way.

As half-time approached, Folkestone twice threatened City's lead. A crossfield ball from Tait picked out his striking partner James Dryden on the edge of the City area, his shot would have tested Davies but a timely block by a typically rampaging Che Wilson took the sting out of it and provided Davies with a very comfortable save. Three minutes on Azzopardi tried his luck from distance, his swerving shot caused Davies a moment of anxiety but swung away past the post as City's keeper scrambled along his line.

The action ended with City on the attack. Rob Sturgess swung in a deep cross, Nightingale nodded down for Clements to attempt a volley from 18 yards but the winger miscued and the ball dribbled through to the keeper.

After the break, Folkestone got into their stride quickly. Only a minute in, Ricky Reina set-up Dryden who unleashed a piledriver from just outside the area that Davies did superbly well to turn over the bar. The home side continued to press and minutes later Tait got the better of Shane Wardley before driving in a low shot at the near post that Davies did well to gather at the second attempt

However, City provided the perfect response to Folkestone's increase in momentum by doubling their lead after fifty two minutes. City were provided with a set-piece opportunity when Azzopardi upended Wardley. Nightingale swung in a well flighted ball, Simpson flicked on and Colin Vowden arrived at the far post to head his second goal of the season.

Just after the hour controversy descended. The home crowd were incensed by referee Postles decision to only show Vowden a yellow card after he had manhandled Ayling as he toe-poked a long ball out of defence past the City centre half and looked to be away. The resulting free-kick came to nothing and Davies bowled the ball out to Wooding who was scythed down by a very late challenge from Michael Everitt. If there was a sense of injustice amongst the Folkstone support after the referee's previous decision, this was compounded as Everitt was shown a red card for violent conduct.

Two down and a man down, Invicta could have been forgiven if their heads had dropped but to their credit they didn't although City never really looked in danger of conceding their lead with the odds by now firmly stacked in their favour. Folkestone did threaten in the 75th minute when Reina, playing in a more advanced role, appeared to push Wardley to the ground in a penalty area tustle, but Vowden came to City's rescue with a brilliantly timed tackle to disposess the striker as he shaped to shoot.

With time running out Bloomfield came close to settling the tie when he was sent clear by substitute Kevin Wilkin's neat flick but he never really got away from his marker and could only produce a shot into the corner that Munden was able to stop with an outstretched arm. Moments later City did finally kill the game. Wilkin won his race with Folkestone's Anthony Henry for a ball played into the corner, the City striker cut back inside, drew the keeper then pulled the ball back for Nightingale to score his second of the day.

If Folkestone needed any evidence that this wasn't to be their day it came in the final minute. Dryden produced a superb curing shot that had Davies hopelessly beaten but the ball struck the post, the rebound fell to Tait who's follow-up curled agonisingly wide of the far post, denying the home side even a consolation goal.