Cugley praises local players for steadying the ship

AFTER THREE straight away matches in the League, Folkestone Invicta take on Crowborough Athletic at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Newly promoted Crowborough lie bottom of the Ryman League Division One South table and have most recently lost to Eastbourne Town and Godalming Town - sides who Folkestone have managed to take a point off away from home during the last week.

And Folkestone Invicta manager, speaking to www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk, said: “It’s no good us putting in all the hard work over these last few away games and not getting the win at home. We’ve got to show what we’re about, show that things off the field have calmed down a bit and get a win so we can keep ourselves in the play off positions which is where I want to be at the end of the season.

“League tables don’t start to lie at this time of year and they’re obviously at the bottom as they’re not getting results. We know about them and we’ve got to go out there and make sure we get the three points”.

Versatile midfielder James Everitt and defensive sensation Matt Bourne return to the squad from suspensions, whilst James Corbett should be fit to return to the side after missing Tuesday night’s match at Godalming after feeling unwell since the weekend.

Liam Dickson has returned to the squad after a short loan spell at Herne Bay and impressed the Folkestone boss on his return to the side, as did Josh Vincent when he came on off the bench and both will be vying for a starting place this weekend.

Kieron Byrne will also be looking to retain his place in the side after setting up James Dryden for Invicta’s second on Saturday and scoring with a fine strike last night to earn the Seasiders a valuable point. Billy Shadow faces a late fitness test.

The only disappointment on the injury front has been the news this week that Lee Spiller is now likely to be out of action for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

“It is a great shame as he is a quality player and one we probably won’t see the best of this year,” said Cugley. “We wish him all the best for his op and he’s a good man to have about the club as he’s very enthusiastic, good with the young players and when he’s fit we hope to have him at the club.”

Invicta have picked up valuable points from both of their last away matches; drawing 2-2 away at Eastbourne Town on a very wet Saturday afternoon and drawing 1-1 away at Godalming in midweek.

“I thought we did quite well (against Eastbourne) and I was a bit disappointed we didn’t win because as the away side I think we had more of the play than they did,” said Cugley. “We dug in well and to be fair to Eastbourne they were on a bit of a run so overall it wasn’t a bad point for us.

“For the first goal Tayler has done well to get to the byline and pull it back and as all good forwards do they get on the end of it and Jimmy did. The second goal was excellent; a very good cross in by Kieron Byrne and a good header from Jim. It very similar to the goal at Cray, probably not as good but as that was one of the best goals of the year so far – just a shame it was away from home!”

Against Godalming in midweek, Invicta lost young defender Liam Friend in the first half via a dubious dismissal for an alleged elbow.

Friend faces a three match ban in a fortnight, where the Seasiders will also be without tough tackling Micheal Everitt as he faces a one match ban after accumulating five bookings.

Cugley said: “I didn’t see it but the annoying thing is the linesman did and he shouted out and pointed to a free kick for us and then half a minute later he spoke to the referee and got Liam sent off, so I can’t see how one minute it is a free kick to us and then the next we’ve got a player sent off and it’s a free kick to them.

“If the linesman put his flag up straight away and called the referee over and sent him off I would’ve probably had no complaints but the whole thing was bizarre.

“Friendy said the other player kept pulling and pulling at him, and as he fouled him Liam pushed the other player away. Anybody that knows Liam would know that it wasn’t anything more than that, and if anything, we’ve spent quite a long time to make him more aggressive in his play. It was another harsh decision and we lose another player for three matches which is very frustrating.

“I thought we showed great spirit after that though and like in all three away games we’ve had a go. We’ve had to keep changing the side to suit what players we’ve had available and it hasn’t been easy but they’ve all come through and deserve a lot of credit for that and there’s a lot of plusses about, especially with some of the young local players who I’ve been really pleased with.”

Three local lads combined for Folkestone’s equaliser last night after a Josh Vincent throw in was helped on by Jimmy Dryden for Byrne to send home.

“JV, Burchy, Byrnesy, Dicko and Mev are all local lads and all did very well on Tuesday night. If Godalming had won they would’ve gone above us so it was a crucial point and we’re still in there, which is especially pleasing with everything that has happened off the pitch. If you look at how many of the lads last night were local it’s great and with people like Jacko and Charlie Mitten about, they are good older pros to help bring them on.

“We haven’t nosedived down the League either which some people thought we would – I personally didn’t think that would happen – and we’re still in there after those three away games. If we can get things sorted off the field I think we’ve got a very good balance of players at the club now.

“I think the support from the fans has been excellent and when we go away and take as many as we do, it’s amazing really. Yet again on Tuesday night there were a good number there from Folkestone and it’d be very easy for them not to go with things as they are but they’re getting behind the players perhaps more than I’ve known in a long time and we want to give them something to cheer about with a win on Saturday.”

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Crowborough Athletic
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 8^th November 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU