Defender Liam Smith is enjoying skippering Folkestone's side - but hopes captain Kevin Lokko is back to take the armband off him again soon.

Smith has led Jay Saunders’ side out on the pitch for most of the past month, with Lokko (collarbone) sidelined since he sustained an injury at old club Dover in a derby 4-2 FA Cup second qualifying round defeat last month.

Midfielder Alex Woodyard is Folkestone vice-captain but 26-year-old Smith has plenty of leadership credentials. He was club captain at Hythe Town under manager Steve Watt and also had spells skippering Sittingbourne when boss Ryan Maxwell was in charge.

“I’ve been club captain at a few clubs now but probably none as big as Folkestone,” said Smith. “I’ve kind of always been Kevin Lokko’s little right-hand man, anyway, next to him!

“I know Woodyard is the vice-captain but I have always been behind both of them. I’m quite proud of it.

“I enjoy it but, hopefully, Kev comes back soon.”

Smith has been around for some time now, starting his career under manager Steve McKimm with Tonbridge Angels, but still reckons he is learning plenty at Folkestone. Among his team-mates are Woodyard and Lokko, plus forwards Joe Pigott and John Akinde, who have plenty of Football League experience.

He said: “I have always said, as you get older, you have to use your experience.

“When you have players like Joe Pigott, Alex Woodyard, John Akinde and Kevin Lokko, with the levels they’ve been at, you have got to take that and use their experience.

“I have definitely learnt a lot from them.”

Invicta have made a decent fist of things so far under manager Jay Saunders in an inaugural season at National League South level.

Asked what he felt the difference between Step 3 and Step 2 football was, Smith replied: “It’s the physicality.

“I probably should have done it a few years ago but I just enjoyed playing a little bit lower, which helped with my work. I have enjoyed it. I like to test myself.

“I still feel like I’ve not been properly tested yet - we do have a long way to go - but I’m enjoying it so far."

After a bright start to the campaign, Saunders’ side went on a seven-game winless run but ended that with three home victories in a seven-day spell, including two league wins, the second of which saw them see off Farnborough 2-0 at Cheriton Road last weekend.

“When we look back at our games, we were just slightly off it and we were punished by good teams,” said Smith, reflecting on their downturn in form. “There was nothing we needed to drastically change.

“We knew, after a little while, games would come where we would get back on a winning streak.

“We just needed that turn. I think, at Weston-super-Mare where we got that [1-1] draw, we’ve kicked on from there.

“Hopefully, we can carry on kicking on.”

The win over Farnborough also saw Smith and No.1 Ted Collins keep a first shut-out since August 31.

Smith said: “It was quite nice to get a clean sheet.

“We have been unlucky with a few chances, definitely in the last couple of games where they’ve got little ‘nicky’ goals that they shouldn’t have got. But that’s what I get paid for at the end of the day and that’s what I am here for - to get clean sheets.

“When we played Farnham (losing 2-1), we probably allowed them to have three chances. With two of them, one has gone in the top corner and one was another lovely goal, and you get punished.

“Last year, we probably didn’t get punished as much. You need to realise that. You need to give no chances, not one or two, away in games because they will take them.

“There’s some real quality players in this league that will take those chances.”

Folkestone’s win against Farnborough was played in extremely wet, windy and dismal conditions.

“We’ve got to take that,” said Smith. “It was one of the worst days weather-wise I’ve ever been involved in!

“To get three points at the end of it, that is a good result.”

Smith will be among those to make a Longmead return as Invicta travel to take on Tonbridge Angels in a derby tomorrow night.

He said: “Tonbridge are a really good side - they have been for a while now.

“This season, they’ve been doing really well. It’s a Kent derby, as well, which will make it an even bigger occasion. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been a while since I’ve been there.

“A few of the older ones will probably remember me but it’s probably been about five years since I was last there.

“I don’t know if Jay will get the same reception but we’ll find out!”