Dover Athletic secured a 4-2 victory over Folkestone Invicta in their National League South derby on Saturday, thanks to a strong second-half performance. The match, held at Dover’s home ground, featured a series of lead changes before Dover ultimately prevailed.

Folkestone Invicta took an early lead with goals from Aaron Cosgrave and Alejandro Machado. Cosgrave opened the scoring by converting a long ball from Liam Smith, marking his third goal of the season. Machado added to the advantage, putting Invicta ahead 2-0. Dover responded through Jack Bates, who reduced the deficit, but Invicta appeared to maintain control for much of the first half.

However, Bates completed his brace to level the game shortly after the interval, signaling a shift in momentum. Luke Baptiste, who had scored the decisive goal in the previous derby meeting in 2024, then gave Dover the lead. The match intensified in the closing stages when Decarrey Sheriff converted a late penalty after some controversy, securing the final 4-2 scoreline.

The encounter featured strong defensive efforts and some notable goalkeeping, including a key save from loanee goalkeeper JJ Briggs for Folkestone Invicta before halftime. Dover’s goalkeeper Lenny Holden also made crucial saves, helping hold off Invicta’s attempts to equalize in the second half.

Both teams showed moments of attacking intent, but Dover’s ability to capitalize on key chances ultimately proved decisive. The win allows Dover Athletic to extend their positive run against local rivals and gain valuable points in the National League South standings.