Kent rivals relish cup clash

Conference South side Welling United come to the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday to take on Folkestone Invicta in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

The Seasiders will be desperate to make amends for the previous two occasions in which Welling have knocked them out of this competition.

In October 2001 Invicta took the Wings to a replay at Park View Road and took the lead through Anthony Hogg (whose recently signed for Dartford from Dover Athletic) after 29 minutes.

Welling hit back though with five goals and any chance of Folkestone getting through to a lucrative first Round tie at Reading’s Madejski Stadium were dashed.

Two years later in October 2003 in the 3rd Qualifying Round replay, Invicta went out on penalties at Park View Road when the since departed Mark Munday, whose now at Ramsgate, missed his spot kick.

Munday himself had snatched an equaliser for Invicta to bring the score level to 2-2 in the 104 minute, after Allan Tait had pulled Folkestone level to 1-1 after 18 minutes.

Tony Kessell, Adam Flanagan, Micheal Everitt and Martin Chandler live to tell the tale for the Seasiders. Flanagan (ankle injury) and Chandler (suspended) didn’t play that night though, and Chandler is, of course, currently on loan at Hythe Town.

Invicta go into this game on the back of a sequence of three straight wins, the first being in the first Qualifying Round, the other two being in the Ryman Premier League.

Manager Neil Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk : “If we were playing this game two weeks ago then I think everyone would have been on a bit of a downer and we would have lost but now with the changes we’ve made we’re becoming a difficult side to beat and the results back this up recently.

“So we’re looking forward to Welling and in some ways we’ve got nothing to lose as they’re the favourites and we realise that.

“But with the three straight wins behind us, its given us a lift and we’re optimistic.”

Former Folkestone defender John Guest, who departed Cheriton Road earlier in the year for the Wings and an opportunity to play Conference South football, will return to the Buzzlines Stadium in opposition colours this Saturday.

Cugley said: “We’re looking forward to him coming back, even if it is just to see what his dress sense is like now and if it’s improved at all!

“It’ll be nice though to see how he’s playing for them and we don’t begrudge him the move he made earlier in the year because everyone wants to play at the highest level they can. I just hope he has a stinker Saturday!”

The Seasiders have no fresh injury worries from the East Thurrock game and despite one or two picking up knocks, Cugley expects to have the same squad available to him as he did last night.

James Corbett may also be put on the bench after the forward has played in both of the recent games for the reserves to help him improve his fitness.

Cugley said: “This is probably one of the hardest draws we could’ve got but we know quite a lot about them; we played them pre season and they have a lot about them and some really good players.

“I know they have had us watched twice recently so they have respect for us which is nice considering they’re a league above.”

Since Invicta played on Tuesday night, training will be on Thursday night this week.

Cugley said: “Everyone will be in. It’s a big, big game for us. We haven’t done well at home this year full stop and we want to show our spectators that we have improved as they haven’t seen us in the last four games, and so we want to show that we have got something about us now.”

Folkestone’s memorable success in last season’s F.A Cup saw them go all the way through to the first round Proper to meet Chester City away, a run which generated an enormous amount of excitement for everyone associated with the club as well as generating a substantial amount of revenue through prize money, gate receipts and various other sources.

Cugley expressed: “The players know how important the F.A Cup is at this level and it’s always a massive disappointment when you get knocked out.

“Even last year at Chester when we went out it’s not fun to lose because it’s a big competition with a lot of money in it”.

The outcome of Saturday’s game with Welling will have repercussions all round for Invicta as Cugley explained: “We haven’t got a lot more money to invest in wages and maybe if we got knocked out we might have to look at letting one of the forwards go.

“But we’ll review that situation depending on what happens. I think I’ve got a meeting with the directors next week and there we’ll also be looking at if we have the finances to bring in Luke (Howell)”.

Cugley said that utility player Howell was nearly back to fitness after an injury problem and is certainly a player who he maintains a firm interest in.

The Invicta boss was also happy to discuss the recent rumours that had been circulating on the Folkestone forum surrounding skilful ex forward John Ayling.

He divulged: “I did know John was back but it’s just rumours he’s coming back to us. The issue is obviously about fitness again; he was the most talented player I have ever worked with but if he’s not fit or willing to get fit then he will be little use to us or probably any other team.

“I would always welcome John back with open arms as he is a quality player and a great lad to work with. He also had a wicked sense of humour!

“The amount of goals he scored for us just from the bench was phenomenal. But the biggest problem with him was training; he hated it and ultimately that stopped him from easily being a Conference player”.

He EXCLUSIVELY told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today: “We are under no illusions. It’s going to be a difficult game and we have to be on the ball.”

The Wings have watched Cugley’s side, and Pennock is looking forward to meeting two former Gillingham team-mates of his, Mark Saunders and Mark Patterson.

He said: “Folkestone work very hard, they’ve got experience there. Mark Saunders pulls the strings, obviously he's a good mate of mine.

“They are a honest team and work very hard - it will be a difficult game for us.”

As both sides reached the first round proper last season - Welling were knocked out at Huddersfield Town a day after Invicta’s defeat at Chester City - Pennock knows one Kent club will miss out on much-needed financial gains.

“The FA Cup is the best competition in the word and for clubs like Folkestone and Welling its important for financial gains to win every game and get into the first round proper.

“We’re under no illusions, both teams will be up for it, it’s a very interesting game and we are looking forward to it.

Welling’s previous two FA Cup victories over the Cheriton Road club were both before Pennock took over the reigns, but he is looking forward to winning bragging rights over his two former team mates at Priestfield Stadium.

“Obviously I wasn’t involved, what’s gone in the past is irrelevant really. It’s all about Saturday and getting the right result,” said Pennock.

“Mark Saunders and Mark Patterson are very good friends of mine. We had some great memories and great times at Gillingham and now we are up against each other in the FA Cup.

“Whatever the result we will have a beer afterwards, but for 90 minutes the friendship goes out the window as we all want to win.”

Che Stadhart (back) and Andrew Sam (groin) are about a week away from returning to  fitness.

Visit the Folkestone Invicta Official Website:  www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Visit the Welling United Official Website: www.wellingunited.com

Folkestone Invicta v Welling United
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 30^th September 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone