My hands and legs are tied bringing in new players, admits cash-strapped Cugley

Thursday 26th October 2006

After a hard fought 1-0 victory over Staines Town last weekend, Neil Cugley takes his Folkestone Invicta side to Ramsgate this weekend in the Ryman Premier League looking for their fifth successive win, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant – www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

“We’ve had Ramsgate watched and they are very good going forward but I think it will be the same as the past seven or eight games in that I won’t be changing the team,” said Cugley.

“Everyone who’s starting so far deserves their place and I don’t think I’ve got much of a squad to change things around and to set our side out differently to accommodate Ramsgate’s threats.

“We’ll go there with the same attitude as we did at Staines; it’s away and we’ve got to keep things tight and if we can nick a goal I feel confident we can hold out for the win”.

Cugley confirmed what many non-league fans will be hard pressed to deny – the Rams consistent progress up the leagues.

“They are on a hell of a run and the manager there has done a hell of a job with the players he’s got,” he said.

“They’re big, strong and attack up the field quickly so we’ve got be weary of the counter attack.

“Set pieces I feel will be important for both teams – we’ve scored a lot from them recently but they’re big and powerful at both ends so it will be tough for us and them.”

The Rams have surprised a few people, outside the red part of Thanet, this season after winning the Ryman Division One Championship on goal difference to Horsham last season.

They have currently won 6 of their last 7 matches in the League, which has propelled them from mid table early on in the season to third in the League at present.

A win this coming Saturday would take them into second behind Bromley. Invicta and Ramsgate currently sit at the top of the form tables, both winning their last four games in a row and with both managers able to boast the only 100% records in the month of October.

The winning manager will undoubtedly take the Manager of the Month award home.

Ramsgate on paper have a strong home record, having taken 15 points from a possible 18 at home whilst Invicta have taken 7 points from a possible 15 away from home, as well as last week’s 1-0 win away at Staines.

Ramsgate currently have five players who can claim to have scored three or more League goals this season with former Dover Athletic forward Sean Welford having netted five goals in twelve appearances.

Cugley said: “As I’ve said when the fixtures came out we had a very difficult start but after that we had very winnable games and now we’re on a run of four in a row we really have got to keep it going.

“If we can win at Ramsgate then it sets us up for November and if you look at the fixtures then, the games there are winnable so there really is the chance to push on to consolidate mid table.

“Don’t forget that we’re only seven points off the play-offs and it’s not silly at all to suggest we can aim for those play off places if we can win games in November and if we did that with the squad we have it would be tremendous”, highlighted the Folkestone manager.

The Seasiders haven’t played Ramsgate since being in the Kent League with Cugley adding: “We were both in the Kent League not long ago. Its been a quicker rise for Ramsgate but we’re both now consolidating ourselves in a pretty good standard of football which is not easy on the funds both clubs have compared to the likes of Margate and Dover so I think you’ve got to credit Ramsgate a lot with how far they’ve come.

"They’re very similar to us really in that they have quite a few lads that are local in their side and I know the manager lives locally in Broadstairs and like myself we both make the players train at the ground whereas with other clubs in Kent they may train elsewhere to accommodate the player’s location”.

Victory over Staines last week ensured the Club gained at least £1350 in prize money and with finances typically tight at the Buzzlines Stadium the cash was more than welcomed.

Cugley said: “Finance is always going to important at a club like Folkestone. The further we can go in this cup where there’s more money involved, can make things a lot easier”.

The Folkestone squad looked slightly on the thin side up at Wheatsheaf Park with only three substitutes on the bench.

Cugley explained: “There wasn’t a lot I could do about that; Sam Marsh failed his fitness test and Simon Rainbow couldn’t make the game so we were very restricted and we haven’t got the money to bring players in at the moment.

“It’s a case of rolling our sleeves up and getting on with it and it is very frustrating because I can’t do anything about it.

“My hands and legs are tied and I just have to make sure the team plug away and to be fair they’ve really given me a lot the last month or so and we’ve had some really decent results.”

Importantly the draw for the next round of the FA Trophy sees Invicta drawn at home, to either Billericay Town or Aylesbury United.

The Seasiders met Aylesbury away last season in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round. Two goals from the since departed James Dryden secured a 2-0 win away from home.

This season Folkestone met Billericay at New Lodge, earning a 1-1 draw with a well taken Steve Norman free kick.

“You can’t moan about those two teams and it’s important that we’re at home because we haven’t had a lot of revenue coming in due to away games,” said Cugley.

“It will still be tough whoever we have because Aylesbury got a decent draw at Billericay which is notable but I don’t think it really mattered who we got as long as we got the home draw”.

Interview with Ramsgate boss Jim Ward follows tomorrow.

Visit Club websites:

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Ramsgate  v  Folkestone Invicta
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 28^th October 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate