Cugley: We must take points off East Thurrock tonight

Consistent performer and captain Adam Flanagan, and wing back Steve Norman were both on the scoresheet again as Folkestone Invicta got their first Ryman Premier League win of the season against Slough Town at Stag Meadow on Saturday, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant - www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

Striker Matt Carruthers failed a late fitness test on a groin injury he picked up the previous week against Whyteleafe, so Ashford based Paul Jones replaced him and partnered Ellis Remy in attack.

Mark Saunders took his place in the centre of the park after being on the sidelines recently with a foot injury. Ben Sly made way and took his place on the substitutes bench.

Former Blackburn Rovers striker James Corbett did not take his place in the squad but manager Neil Cugley explained why.

“Jimmy played a whole game with the reserves and he will do the same again in midweek,” he said.

“He might make the bench for next Saturday but for him it’s just about improving his fitness because he’s definitely got the ability”.

With Slough also at the bottom end of the Ryman Premier League table and on a similar points tally as the Seasiders, this was a decent opportunity to take points off one of the teams around in order to start a climb back up the table.

Cugley said: “These were games we earmarked before the start of the season that we should be taking points from.

“We have had a hard start but now we’ve got a run of games against weaker opposition and we really need to start picking up wins.

“Bringing players in has livened the side up and this is probably another reason why we’ve performed a bit better recently”.

Expert header of the ball Flanagan put his side ahead after 25 minutes, with a header from a Watson free kick delivered from the right.

Fellow defender Norman scored almost directly from a corner after 82 minutes, when it was touched into the net by home goalkeeper Kieron Drake.

Cugley said: “Both goals were really good deliveries from set pieces. The first was a quality cross by Watto and Flan has scored from the most acute angle you can imagine and it was a quality finish.

“The second was a top corner by Norms and its come in right under the crossbar and their keeper has missed it and it was bundled in.

“It’s very pleasing to see we’re causing problems again off set pieces like we were last year.

“It’s our strength as we’ve got a few big lads in there and we’ve worked on our set pieces recently”.

Folkestone were put more under pressure by the hosts in the second half, which made Norman’s goal increasingly important to seal the three points.

“Slough are the sort of side we’ve got to beat if we’re going to compete at this level. Even though they did put a bit of pressure on us, it wasn’t enough and I did think we were the better side over the ninety.”

Invicta’s typically resolute defence dealt well with the pressure from Slough and Cugley added: “We’re defending a lot better now like we were last year and unlike in the first few games of this season – so you’re not sitting there thinking when are we going to let a goal in.

“Tony Kessell has made one excellent save which has basically kept us in the match but he didn’t have a lot to do apart from that. To be fair to Kess he’s got his faults like any goalkeeper but he’s an out and out shot stopper, a superb one, and he proved it again yesterday”.

After strengthening his strike force recently the Invicta boss has been pleased with the performance of his forwards.

He said: “I have no complaints at all with how our forwards are getting on; Ellis bought the foul which led to the first goal and Jonesy worked well to get the corner which led to the second goal. What we have to do is to continue to work hard and give them the chances to put away”.

With Corbett working on his fitness at present and Walid Matata, Rob Knott and Carruthers sidelined with injuries, Invicta are short in the striker department at present.

Cugley said: “We can’t bring any more in at the moment because we’ve got the three all out at the same time, so it’s a bit unlucky. But once two of them come back we’ll be able to go all out up front again”.

Aside from the aforementioned injury worries (Carruthers will face a late fitness test on his groin), Folkestone take a full squad up to Essex to face East Thurrock United tonight.

The same fixture last season saw Folkestone come back with all three points in a dominating performance, courtesy of a brace from Steve Norman who lives only a very short distance from East Thurrock’s ground.

Cugley said: “The East Thurrock game is definitely important, it’s not one of the nicest places to go but luckily a fair few of our players live up that way so travelling wise it’s good for them! We’re a lot more confident than we were two or three weeks ago.

“I hope that we can carry it into the next game and get a run of form to take us into the Welling (FA Cup) game, which is going to be a tough one”.

Elsewhere, Margate welcome Bromley to Hartsdown Park tonight - www.margate-fc.com

Robin Trott’s side are already unbeaten against two of the pre-season favourites for the title; Chelmsford City and AFC Wimbledon, but this Kent derby looks likely to be an even bigger test for the Thanet ide.

Dean Standen should be available again after suspension and Bertie Brayley may have done enough against AFC Wimbledon to retain a place on the bench or even a starting berth if Danny Hockton is not deemed fit enough to start. Jay Saunders, meanwhile, looks set to continue in the starting eleven.

Visit club websites:

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

www.margate-fc.com

East Thurrock United v Folkestone Invicta
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 26^th September 2006
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Rookery Hill, Corringham, Essex SS17 9LB