Cugley: Youngsters are part of our future

A late penalty by right wing back Kevin Watson after a Joe Neilson run into the penalty box was thwarted by a Whyteleafe defender, ensured Folkestone Invicta started the F.A Cup in victorious fashion, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant - www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Manager Neil Cugley made several changes to the side that went out of the Ryman League Cup to Dartford in midweek; Paul Lamb and Stuart Myall were not in the squad due to their departure from the Buzzlines Stadium earlier in the week and Martin Chandler is now at Hythe Town on loan.

This saw Cugley give pacy youngster Ben Sly a place in the starting line up, with fellow youngster Liam Friend continuing at centre back alongside Adam Flannagan and new sweeper Samuel Kola Okikiolu.

Steve Norman regained his position at left wing back and Paul Jones returned to the substitutes bench after recovering from illness in midweek. New striker James Corbett also took his place on the bench.

Whyteleafe scored to go 1-0 up in the first half before skipper Adam Flanagan headed his side level before the interval.

"It was obviously important to get that equaliser before half time as it took some of the pressure off for the second half," said Cugley.

"We’ve played a short corner and Mev has put a nice little ball into the back post and Flan has powered a top header into the bottom corner.

"He’s such a strong lad and a very good header of the ball and if we can get good balls like the one from Mev into the box, he will do damage as he is a powerful player".

After their first goal Whyteleafe didn’t appear to offer an abundance of attacking threat with Invicta offering much of the attacking prowess in the first half.

Matt Carruthers had to come off early on after suffering a groin injury and was replaced by Jones. The injury is not a recurrence of the groin problem Carruthers had when he came to the Buzzlines Stadium earlier in the year; it is on the other groin and the full extent of the damage will be known in the week.

Cugley said: "With Walid and Knotty out and Matt picking up that injury today, we’re looking a bit short on fit strikers at the moment! Joe (Neilson) was going to go out on loan to get games but he will be staying for the time being as we need him here – and he’s proved that this afternoon."

Neilson came on in place for Sly in the second half and his burst into the box led to the Invicta penalty.

The Invicta manager said: "It was a definite penalty as their defender has just taken Joe out. I thought it was a case for GBH there! But don’t forget, Joe has made a great run into the box and showed his pace and stamina getting in there. That’s what we’ve got to do, as he showed how it creates problems for opposition defenders.

"It was another top pen by Watto and he’s got a great technique from the spot and seems as cool as anyone when he steps up to take them. Whether he’s as relaxed inside, I don’t know!"

The Seasiders youngsters all performed admirably at Whyteleafe, with the Invicta boss pleased with all of their performances.

He said: "The younger ones we put in today like Liam Friend, Ben Sly and Joe Neilson are part of the future for the club as we will never be in a position to spend thousands and thousands on bringing players in from all areas. They’ve all done well again today and all of them have bright futures."

Invicta’s performance tailed off slightly in the second half on what Cugley said was a poor and bobbly playing surface, particularly at the end his side attacked in the second period.

He explained: "Well today’s game plan was to use Ben Sly and his attacking threat as an outlet for us, and then for Mev and Ratty to have a go at their midfield.

"I think in the second half we didn’t get the ball down enough as a side, and out into wide areas to work the ball into the box.

"Also, I think Ben started to tire a bit towards the end and in hindsight I perhaps should have taken him off earlier but he had worked hard and done really well I thought. But his strength and fitness will improve with games.