Folkestone Invicta 1-0 Hillingdon Borough - We must improve, admits Cugley - EXCLUSIVE

FOLKESTONE INVICTA 1-0 HILLINGDON BOROUGH
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 13^th October 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Buzzlines Stadium

Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley has challenged his players’ to perform better in time of their FA Cup fourth and final qualifying round tie in two weeks time.

Cugley’s charges extended their unbeaten run to eleven games, after knocking out a Hillingdon Borough side that were on a seven match unbeaten run themselves.

Ellis Remy proved to be the match-winner, heading home the only goal of the game with eighteen minutes remaining, to score his third goal of the season.

And with goalkeeper Charlie Mitten celebrating his 33^rd birthday on the day of their goal-less draw at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday, Folkestone Invicta have now gone 455 minutes since Joe Flack scored Billericay’s second goal here on 24^th September.

That game, which Folkestone Invicta produced a stunning 3-2 victory, was their only home win of the season, but the Ryman Premier League club are just one more win away from an appearance in the first round proper.

Two years ago Chester City ended their FA Cup campaign in the first round with a 2-1 win at the Deva Stadium.

James Corbett failed a fitness test prior to the game, due to a knee injury, but Mark Saunders was drafted into the side after missing the midweek draw at Kingsmeadow with the same complaint, and this relegated Ryan Briggs to the bench.

But defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu was forced off the pitch late on with a calf injury and is expected to miss the trip to East Thurrock United on Tuesday night.

Hillingdon Borough, in the bottom five in the British Gas Business Division One South & West table - one division below Invicta - should have opened the scoring after just 143 seconds.

Striker Chris Hibbs lashed a right-footed shot just over Mitten’s crossbar after the experienced goalkeeper tipped away Dave Lawrence’s whipped in cross from the left.

And after Kevin Watson swung in a first-time cross from the right, Remy powered a header just past the near post.

Matt Davis, the Hillingdon Borough goalkeeper, was called into action after 13 minutes, blocking Saunders’ left-footed shot after Watson’s long-throw caused havoc inside the visitors’ penalty area after 13 minutes.

After being fouled by Lawrence, Watson got up and delivered a right-footed free-kick into the penalty area, and Roland Edge’s powerful header deflected just past the far-post.

As the game approached the half-hour mark, Davis was called into action again, making a smart save to thwart Micheal Everitt, who unleashed a low right-footed drive from 30-yards.

Edge was the next Folkestone player to be denied by Davis as his angled left-footed drilled shot from 25-yards brought a smart save in the 39^th minute.

James Duncan should have done better when he nodded the ball into Mitten’s grateful arms from inside the six-yard box as Folkestone didn’t clear Lawrence’s corner.

Folkestone Invicta’s best chance, however, arrived in the 42^nd minute when Leigh Bremner played in Remy.

Remy, with only Davis to beat, however, drilled a right-footed shot past the goalkeeper but the ball flicked off the foot of the near post and out for a goal-kick.

Hillingdon created the first chance after just 75 seconds of the second half when Leon Nelson glanced Sam Byfield’s deep cross past the near post.

And at the other end Edge failed to stab the ball in from close range but Hillingdon thought they had scored in the 50^th minute when Chris Hibbs drove his shot agonisingly past the foot of the left-post after Nelson cut back Byfield’s cross to him.

Another half-chance fell the Kent club’s way on the hour-mark.

Mitten, close to the half-way line on the left-hand side, delivered a free-kick towards the far-post and Watson’s looping header was comfortably saved by Davis.

Seven minutes later, Cugley brought on Damian Abel for Frankie Chappell, one of their back three, and switched from a 3-5-2 formation to 3-4-3.

And this move paid off as Folkestone Invicta scored the only goal of the game from their first corner of the second half.

Watson cut the corner back to Micheal Everitt and his right-footed cross was met by a towering, bullet header from Remy, from just one-yard out, and the ball rocketed into the roof of the net.

MATCHWINNER:  Ellis Remy leaps to power his header into the Hillingdon Borough net as Folkestone Invicta reach the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Photograph courtesy of "Taff" www. equiphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/3640738

Mitten made his most crucial save of the game just four minutes later when he rushed off his line to deny Byfield, who had latched onto a ball over the top.

And Hillingdon squandered another chance to salvage a replay with just seven minutes remaining when Hibbs dragged his shot across the face of goal and just past the foot of the far-post.

After needed away replay’s at both Horsham YMCA and Windsor & Eton in their previous two rounds, Cugley was delighted that his side finished off the job at the first attempt.

“Delighted to get through when you look at all the sides that’s gone out now, there’s not many of us left so delighted for a club like ours to get through,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Pleased, but we made hard work of it, didn’t play very well, haven’t been playing very well for a few weeks but keep winning.

“I’ve said to the players there, “they’ve got to improve” I think, as players or as a team but you can’t knock their effort and team spirit and work-rate that we’ve got and that gets us through.”

Cugley was pleased that the Folkestone fans put club before country, as this FA Cup game kicked off at the same time as England’s game against Estonia at Wembley Stadium.

He said: “I’m pleased with that, we didn’t lose too many. It shows what a loyal bunch that we’ve got here and we are lucky (with) the people that we’ve got.

“They don’t give us much stick at all and we haven’t really turned much on for them this year at home.

“So that would be nice if we could turn that round as the season goes on and improve at home, to give them something to cheer a bit more.”

And with the prospect of playing a Blue Square Premier club in the next round, Cugley admitted his side must improve.

He said: “The best we’ve played was against Billericay a little while ago, I thought we was outstanding then and they were the best side we’ve played recently.

“So hopefully we can lift ourselves when we have to, otherwise as you say, we’d find it very difficult otherwise.”

Cugley added: “We’ve got an unbelievable bunch of lads with spirit and all credit to Mark Saunders, who does a great job as my number two.

“We seem to get them up and work them hard and we’ve just grinded it out, I’m afraid.

“We’d like maybe one day, a bit more quality into the team but can’t complain, what’s that, eleven games unbeaten, it’s unbelievable. Four clean sheets with Charlie Mitten and one before that, it’s a tremendous help really.”

Praising Mitten, Cugley said: “He’s just a great presence about him, kicks a good ball, very laid back, he doesn’t get excited abut much and that’s helping the team I think. It gives us a little composure there.”

Despite their best form coming on the road, Cugley still wants a home tie in the final qualifying round.

“Still rather be at home all the time,” he said. “You can always turn that round I think, you can turn your home form round.

“With away it might start to become difficult. As time goes on it’s up to myself and Mark to sort out the home form, even to bring in players that are a bit more comfy playing at home or whatever.”

After the game, Cugley signed Nigerian striker, Richard Shittu, 28, who lives in east London.

“We’re just having a look at Richard Shittu,” revealed Cugley. “He’s a massive lad, six foot five, and plays up front and we’ll have a look at him over the next couple of weeks.

“We’re not going to rush him, he’s had a bit of an ankle injury so we’ll see how it goes. We’ll arrange a friendly next week and give him a full game.”

Speaking about terms, Cugley said: “We haven’t talked about money to be fair, honestly we haven’t even spoken about money or anything like that with him at all.

“He’s 28 and played a lot of games in Poland and that so we’ll see how he does and hopefully things will work out for all of us.”

Meanwhile, Folkestone Invicta are looking to play a friendly against Kent League side at Cheriton Road on Wednesday, 23rd October.

Any interested clubs should contact secretary Neil Pilcher on 07880 745 772.

Folkestone Invicta: Charlie Mitten, Kevin Watson, Roland Edge, Frankie Chappell (Damian Abel 67), Liam Friend, Samuel Kola Okikiolu, (Ryan Briggs 86), Micheal Everitt, Mark Saunders, James Everitt, Leigh Bremner, Ellis Remy.
Subs: Josh Burchell, Ben Sly, Luke Stonebridge.

Goal: Ellis Remy 72

Booked: Roland Edge 29

Hillingdon Borough: Matt Davis, Gavin Brown, Ryan Fenton (John Mengeli 82), Max Howell, Chris Phillips, James Duncan, Dave Lawrence, Mark Kirby, Chris Hibbs (Danny Bennell 77), Leon Nelson, Sam Byfield (Lucas Williams 77).
Subs: Nick Turner, Ben Harris.

Attendance: 284
Referee: Mr Graham Atkins (Southend, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Paul Faithfull (Loughton, Essex) & Mr Jon Pope (Braintree, Essex)