Boss Jay Saunders is confident Folkestone will extend Bobby Kelman’s loan stay - but knows that will become harder with the more the striker scores.

Kelman made it three goals in three National League South matches in a 2-0 weekend home win over Farnborough as he added to midfielder Harvey Kedwell’s first-half opener at a rain-soaked Cheriton Road.

The 19-year-old signed for Invicta on an initial one-month loan off National League Hornchurch but Saunders has already spoken to Urchins manager Daryl McMahon about the situation.

“I have already spoken to Daryl,” said Saunders. “I think it will probably be extended but, if he keeps scoring goals, no doubt they’ll want to call him back.

“That’s the chance you take with a loan but he’s enjoying it.

“As a young lad, I think they’re just happy he is out, playing.”

Saunders has likened Kelman to a prolific frontman he remembers facing in his playing days.

“He reminds me a bit of a Jon Main, trying to compare him to people I’ve played against in non-league,” said Saunders, who was without skipper Kevin Lokko and fellow defender Dan Quick. “He’s that little, wiry lad, on the shoulder.

“He seems to always be where the ball drops but doesn’t mind, putting it about. He has got a bit of arrogance about him for a young lad. He’s done really well.

“The biggest thing for me is we have got competition now in that forward area. Finally, we have got Pigs (Joe Pigott) and John Akinde back - neither of them are at full fitness - but they’re both back.

“We have also got Aaron Cosgrave, as well, so I was able to make changes for the first time in a long time. It’s gone role-reversal now.

“At the back, we’re missing Quicky and Lokko but that’s the way it goes.

“It’s nice to have a bench where I could make changes.”

For Kedwell, son of former Ashford United and AFC Croydon Athletic boss Danny Kedwell, whose AFC Wimbledon loanee younger brother Preston Kedwell is also part of Folkestone’s squad, his effort opened his club account.

He drilled into the empty net from long range after Farnborough’s debutant keeper Liam Hall had just beaten Kelman to a short back-pass.

Saunders said: “Bobby did well to press the keeper.

“He didn’t give up on that, he’s pressed the keeper, and it’s come out to Harv. I thought his first touch was superb in those conditions. It set him and then he’s drilled it low so I’m really pleased for him.

“Harvey is only 20 but he’s been outstanding for us, really, this season.”

It was a third victory in a week for Invicta in all competitions, having claimed a 3-1 Kent Senior Cup midweek success against Dover after last weekend’s 2-1 triumph over AFC Totton had ended a winless run.

“I thought that we deserved the three points,” reflected Saunders, who saw his side keep a first clean sheet since August 31.

“They hit the post towards the end but, in difficult conditions, with the amount of chances we created and had, we probably should have put the game to bed earlier.

“We could have put it to bed in the first half, I thought, with some of the chances we had. All in all, it’s a clean sheet, which is important to us.

“We’ve not had one for a while and three points so we move on.”

Saunders will make a Longmead return as Folkestone face seventh-placed Tonbridge Angels in a derby on Tuesday.