Cugley remains upbeat despite losing four players

FOLKESTONE INVICTA demonstrated true fighting spirit yesterday afternoon after a difficult week off the pitch, in what proved to be a comfortable 2-0 victory over Corinthian Casuals and had it not been for the heroics of the visiting keeper, the scoreline would have been much higher, writes Tom Marchant.

A first half goal from Jimmy Corbett and a second half strike from Matt Bourne sealed the victory at the Buzzlines Stadium in front of a good crowd of 404.

Manager Neil Cugley, speaking to www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk, said: "It was a strange atmosphere I felt and I'm really pleased we won as it does make it a bit better for everyone.

“As I said in the week we were going to have all the players together for one last game, and I was delighted with their attitude and commitment they showed in getting the victory.

"I think we played some good stuff but bearing in mind the amount of possession we had around the box we could have scored a lot more."

Speaking today, Cugley confirmed four players have now left the Cheriton Road club.

Captain Lee Gledhill and centre back Nick Humphrey have both joined Metropolitan Police, Craig Wilkins has signed for Ashford Town and Mark Green is currently in discussion with a few North Kent clubs about a pending transfer.

"Ironically Met Police are only one place behind us and obviously Gleds was there before and recommended Humps to them so they've gone and we wish them all the best and thank them for playing yesterday,” said Cugley.

“They've both been really consistent players, and if anything I'd say Humps has been our best player this year.

“We're disappointed to have lost those four, but with Humps for instance, he's just had a little baby and at the moment we can't guarantee any long term payments."

Goalkeeper Charlie Mitten is also in discussions with clubs, one of which is believed to be Thamesmead Town, one of his former clubs, but injured midfielder Lee Spiller has told Cugley he wishes to stay at the Buzzlines Stadium.

"Knowing Charlie though he doesn't actually want to leave!,” said Cugley. “It's very difficult to say too much at the moment and it's quite literally a game to game scenario to see what players we will have.

“What we need to do is get something sorted so the players know there is something positive at the end.

“It's all well and good saying "hang around" but if there's nothing there at all for them, and they've got to look after themselves.

"What we're hoping will start to arise from last night's meeting and forthcoming meetings is that there is something there and it won't be too long before we can get going again.

“We can then make players an offer and although it might not be one they accept, at least there's something there for them to make a decision on.

"After the meeting last night, I think what we all saw was that there is light at the end of the tunnel".

Cugley is currently talking to several potential loan signings and is keen to seal a loan deal for the Gillingham right winger who impressed in last week's friendly against Herne Bay, before Tuesday's match away at Cray Wanderers.

The Invicta manager is also talking to League One side Millwall and said a number of Kent clubs have been "very sympathetic to the Club's cause", and he went to Ashford this morning to meet a prospective loan target from Gillingham.

And Cugley said: "I've got a lot more calls to make over the next couple of days and other contacts to chase up. Orange must be making a fortune out of us at the moment!

“Other players – not bad players either I should add – have also been in touch with me saying they haven't been too involved at their current clubs and aren't really happy there, and have said they might like to come down to Folkestone to play for a month as there might be something at the end of it for both parties.

"We're still trying to keep a side together and as soon as I get the OK to say "well the next month is going to be hard but we'll be alright afterwards", then we can start getting somewhere.

“We know it's not ideal and it's obviously disappointing to have to break up a side that – not wishing to put a downer on things – would have got to the play offs and I'd put my house on that, and that was our aim. But we all pull together and we're all rolling our sleeves up and we go again."

Suspensions to both James Everitt and Matt Bourne makes things slightly more challenging for Cugley's team selection at Hayes Lane on Tuesday but as it stands, striking Jimmy's Dryden and Corbett should continue in attack, with Jimmy Jackson and Micheal Everitt in midfield and Liam Friend in defence. Scott Lindsey looks set to play his part as well whilst Josh Vincent and Josh Burchell could both feature.

Liam Dickson has one week remaining of his loan at Herne Bay and will inevitably be recalled immediately.

"It's going to be hard as if you include Billy Swallow that's seven players we haven't got and I might get a phone call before Tuesday saying others have gone but that's the way it is at the moment,” explained Cugley.

“As I said, I'm doing everything I can to get a couple of players in on loan and hopefully we'll have some on Tuesday.

“We'll definitely have a side and I can guarantee for the people coming up on the coach that we'll have a right go and we certainly won't be found wanting in terms of willpower."

On the injury to youngster Swallow Cugley said, "We owe a big thank you to Dave Williams who done a great job as he always does in those circumstances and he got it sorted out straight away and I'm pleased to say Bill is ok.

“It is frightening as your adrenaline is up, you get a whack on the leg and it must have hit a nerve as it went dead and they were worrying moments.

"He played really well though and he's a strong lad and he won't be out for too long. It's a debut he'll never forget; played superbly and then got rushed off to hospital.

“I watched him last weekend in the reserves, then again in the youth team on Sunday and that's why he was in the starting eleven yesterday."

Perhaps Neil's biggest decision to make for Tuesday night though relates to whether to keep faith with Mick Dix who came on for the final seconds of the match yesterday and who will be keen to make a bigger impression on the manager if he gets another chance to show his skills.

"We could have put Scott on but he's had a bit of a tight hamstring and Mick has now got a record of playing in the 70s, 80s, 90s and now the 00s so he's done what he wanted to do! Of course it was done a bit jovially, it was a strange sort of day that needed lightening up I felt".

And on a future position for the 46 year old? "Well he played for Two Bells last year in Sunday League as a keeper and he's really not a bad keeper so that's why we name him sometimes on the bench as if someone did get injured he could go in and he wouldn't let us down".

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Cray Wanderers v Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 28^th October 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF