Folkestone Invicta 2 Maldon Town 0 (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

Folkestone Invicta climbed up three places into fourteenth position in the Ryman Premier League table following their comfortable victory over second from bottom side Maldon Town at the Buzzlines Stadium tonight, writes Stephen McCartney.

This was the first ever meeting between the two clubs and only 248 fans braved the cold and windy conditions to see Invicta win their ninth league game of the season to move level on points with Kent rivals Bromley.

Invicta’s Tottenham based strikers, James Fraser and Walid Matata made their long trips worthwhile as they both got on the score sheet, which pleased their manager Neil Cugley.

Fraser opened his account with the Kent side after 31 minutes when, from the edge of the penalty area, he lifted the ball into the top left hand corner.

Matata, who scored six goals for Dover Athletic before switching to Cheriton Road as part of the deal that took record breaking striker James Dryden to Crabble, has now scored four goals from six starts in the amber and black striped shirts.

Folkestone were very patient in their build up to their second goal, spraying the ball around their defenders in the middle of the park before right sided full-back Kevin Watson whipped in a cross towards the far post and Matata powered home a header across goalkeeper Darren Gould and into the far corner.

“They’ve done quite well for me,” praised Cugley. “Walid’s now scored four goals and I’m pleased with him.

“We’ve got quite a young team and we’ve got a nice balance with the experience.”

Cugley demands his side must collect maximum points from their next two league games - against sides in the bottom three.

Windsor & Eton are the visitors to the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday before they travel to basement boys Redbridge seven days later.

“It was an important win for us and it will be great to get six points (from our next two games) and we’ll be comfortably in the midtable zone” he said.

“I think we’re too far behind to reach the play-off’s but it will be nice to get into that midtable and enjoy the last few games and get your pattern and everything ready for next season.”

Not so long ago, if Cugley was without Paul Jones (hamstring) and Adam Flanagan they would’ve struggled but the long serving manager is pleased to have strength in depth.

“The big difference is a month ago if you said Jones’ and Flanagan were out we would have struggled to put a side out with any quality really, where today we still had a good strong bench. I wouldn’t say we missed them but we was pleased with that.”

As we move into February, Cugley revealed he is already preparing for next season. “We’re talking to most of our players now,” he said. “Most of them are signed on and we’re trying to push on to try to be one of the better sides in the league rather than, I wouldn’t say make the numbers up, but its been like that in the last couple of years.

“Financially we’ve really worked hard within the club and we’ve got our debts near enough right down to the fact we don’t owe any money anywhere and we can be more positive and bring good players in and make this a big club again.”

Folkestone goalkeeper Tony Kessell, whose missed only two games this season, kept his 13^th clean sheet of the campaign, making two good saves late in the game.

He saved his best for last, tipping Neil Shade’s shot against the top of his upright as Maldon twice came close to stealing a point but at least Fraser and Matata can enjoy their long journey back home to North London.

Cugley, however, admits poor early season form has cost his club financially as attendances are down on last season.

“We didn’t start the season very well,” he said. “We never got people hooked onto us early doors, although we had a nice cup run. It’s something next year we want to rectify with a better start and a better fan base behind us.”

Folkestone Invicta travel to Hartsdown Park to tackle Margate in the quarter-finals of the Kent Senior Cup next Tuesday, 7^th February.

Folkestone Invicta: Tony Kessell, Kevin Watson, Paul Lamb, Michael Everett (Stuart Myall 86) , John Guest, James Everitt (Martin Chandler 45) , Mark Saunders, James Fraser (Joe Neilson 77), Walid Matata, Chris Wright, Steve Norman.
Subs: Stuart Playford, Kieron Mann

Maldon Town: Darren Gould, Sean Bell, Craig Huttley, Neil Shade, Simon Clarke (Capt), Paul Goodacre, Gareth Heath, Dean Parratt, Tommy Lee, Simon Parker, Sam Clarke (Chris Wilson 45).
Subs: Tom Hall, David Kreyling, Chris Sutherby

Attendance: 248
Referee: Mr J Evamy (Liphook)
Assistants: Mr K Stone (Ramsgate) & Mr R Joss (Margate)