Folkestone Invicta 2-0 Metropolitan Police - Cugley: All good sides bounce back from disappointments

Ryman Premier League outfit Horsham came away from the Buzzlines Stadium with a 2-1 win in the FA Cup second qualifying round at the weekend, and Cugley, speaking to www. Tonight, knew how important it was to bounce back.

“Very important. That was one thing that we emphasised after Saturday and before the game today,” said Cugley.

“That’s gone. Disappointment over. Good sides then go on and win the next game and that’s all forgotten and off you go again”.

Seventh placed Metropolitan Police suffered their first defeat of the season three days ago, losing to Kent side Ashford Town, and they seemed destined to bounce back themselves with an impressive first half display.

However, star-midfielder, Jimmy Jackson, player-of-the-month for August, scored his fourth goal of the season, as the Kent side scored totally against the run of play, with their first shot on target, after 41 minutes, before striker James Dryden, won and scored a 89^th minute penalty, taking his tally up to seven for the season.

Cugley made just one change to his side with Lee Spiller coming in for Micheal Everitt, but he did explain the reasons behind slender winger Byron Walker’s move to Ryman Premier League side Ramsgate.

Walker has started just one game - the 4-4 FA Cup draw at Kent League side Sevenoaks Town - since his summer move from Dover Athletic and has sat on the bench on seven occasions.

Cugley feels a move to Southwood Stadium will be beneficial to all parties concerned.

“To be fair to Byron, what happened I signed him in the summer when I thought I’ll play a different formation than we finished up playing and it made it awkward for him to get a regular start,” explained Cugley.

“The situation that we have with Byron was come six to eight weeks if he doesn’t get in the side regularly then we can wish him all the best and he can move on to get regular football.

“He’s a lad who needs to be playing football and we wish him all the best. He’s been a model pro with his attitude and everything and we wish him all the best.

“We’ve got another lad called Kieran Byrne, who I rate really highly, a local lad, and he moves up the pecking order.”

Metropolitan Police created seven first half chances during a one-sided first half, with strike partnership Scott Forrester and skipper Craig Carley chief culprits.

Carley’s cross from the right was flicked over the crossbar by Forrester inside the opening five minutes.

Twelve minutes later, Carley intercepted Liam Friend in the middle of the park, following a square pass from Scott Lindsey, and the striker burst forward and drilled a right-footed shot just past the far post.

Then, Gary Drewett, who played for Bromley under Stuart McIntyre, cut the ball back to Carley, whose right-footed shot from 25-yards sailed harmlessly past the near post.

But it took the Police 25 minutes for their first attempt on target, but goalkeeper Charlie Mitten made a comfortable save from Vernon Francis’ glanced header following Stuart Harte’s free-kick.

Folkestone let in the Police eight minutes later but Forrester spurned a great chance when he was left unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, but his right-footed drive took a deflection before going out for a corner.

A drilled in cross from Carley presented Forrester with another excellent chance but he flicked the ball over at the near post - before Carley looped his shot over from close range.

But Folkestone Invicta grabbed the lead after 41 minutes, totally against the run of play.

Home-grown James Everitt earned praise from Cugley during the build-up to the goal. Everitt released Jackson, who ghosted past two defenders, before lashing his left-footed shot high into the top near corner of the net from just inside the box, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Cugley knows Jackson is so important as he bids to return to the Ryman Premier League at the first attempt following their heartbreaking last-day relegation in May.

“The Jackson goal was a real great goal,” beamed Cugley. “I thought James Everitt done ever so well to hold it up and play it into his path and the finish was a real class finish.

“It’s what Jackson can do. He’s a real quality player in those sort of areas. I was pleased he got forward as well into that area.”

Folkestone Invicta performed much better during the early stages of the second half and Dryden went on to take one of his five attempts on goal.

The former Dover Athletic striker latched onto a brilliant diagonal ball from James Everitt in the 52^nd minute and was denied by a combination of goalkeeper Mo Maan and the foot of the far post - the ball caressing the post before going out for a corner.

Two minutes later Jackson’s free-kick wasn’t cleared by Francis and the ball dropped kindly for Dryden, whose angled drive was turned behind by Maan at his near post.

And on the hour-mark, Dryden cracked a dipping 25-yard drive, which was plucked comfortably out of the air by the goalkeeper.

Five minutes later Dryden latched onto Mark Green’s diagonal ball over the top of the Police defence but saw his looping stabbed shot - past the advancing goalkeeper - drop the wrong side of the right-hand side post.

Folkestone Invicta were almost made to pay for those missed chances as Metropolitan Police really should have got something from the game.

They were denied by a stunning diving save from Charlie Mitten after 69 minutes - his second - and best - save of the game.

Steve Sargent’s right-footed free-kick, on the edge of the D, was destined to find the bottom left-hand corner, but Mitten dived low to his right to save well.

Folkestone skipper Lee Gledhill, meanwhile, almost scored against his former club, when his left-footed angled shot curled agonisingly past the far post.

But a late Police raid should have resulted in a deserved equaliser with eight minutes left.

Substitute Steve Goddard’s defensive splitting pass cut open the home sides defence for Rob George to glide the ball past the advancing Mitten, but could only blaze his left-footed shot over an open goal.

However, the Kent side sealed the victory in the 89^th minute, from the penalty spot.

Dryden, who was brought down by former Margate defender Harte, drilled his right-footed penalty into the net, despite the diving goalkeeper getting a touch.

“I thought Jimmy Dryden deserved his goal,” said Cugley. “He worked ever so hard, a couple of good chances he’ll be disappointed he’s missed, but he kept going.

“He got brought down for the penalty and then put that home, so I was pleased for him.”

Despite six wins and two draws from their opening nine games, Cugley is obviously pleased with his side’s start to the season - but knows there’s still a long way to go.

“I don’t really read league tables until about twelve games so give me two or three league game and it’ll be nice to still be joint-top then,” he said.

“That’ll be ideal, better than we thought we were going to do.”

But the long-serving boss admitted his side rode their luck, especially during a one-sided opening 40 minutes.

“I think they were disappointed not to be at least level, if not winning, at half-time,” said Cugley.

“But then we got hold of it and Jimmy Dryden missed a couple of chances he’d be disappointed he’s missed and we could have put it to bed.

“And then they came back again and then we broke away and got the second goal.”

Folkestone Invicta: Charlie Mitten, Lee Gledhill, Mark Green, Liam Friend, Matt Bourne, Lee Spiller (Craig Wilkins 75), Scott Lindsey, James Everitt, James Dryden, Nick Humphrey, Jimmy Jackson.
Subs: Josh Burchell, Liam Dickson, Kieran Byrne, Alex Conyers.

Goals: Jimmy Jackson 41, James Dryden 89 (pen)

Metropolitan Police: Mo Maan, James Greenaway (Ryan Jerwood 79), Stuart Harte, Ron Edwards (Tommy Moorhouse 87), Dave Newman, Vernon Francis, Gary Drewett, Rob George, Scott Forrester (Steve Goddard 70), Craig Carley, Steve Sargent.
Subs: Michael Cobden, Will Packham.

Attendance: 197
Referee: Mr Mick McCoy (Worthing, West Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Dominic Lyons (Lewes, East Sussex) & Mr Mr Mark Tasker (Lewes, East Sussex)