The best is yet to come, insists Invicta boss Cugley

Folkestone Invicta look forward to tomorrow’s Ryman Premier League clash with Hampton & Richmond Borough at the Buzzlines Stadium buoyed by two straight wins over Ashford Town (Middlesex) and Worthing, which has seen the Seasiders push further away from the drop zone, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant.

Last Saturday’s victory came away at Worthing, where goals from James Everitt and Ellis Remy sealed a 2-1 win for Invicta.

Boss Neil Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk that he was really happy with their defensive qualities.

He said: “I was really happy with the defence overall as obviously it was vastly different to what we were used to with Ben Sly at left back, but all the lads along the backline played marvellously and were really the bedrock of our win because it gave us a platform to attack from.

“I still think on a good pitch we are a good side and their pitch was good and when we’ve got people with the quality of Luke Howell and Jimmy Corbett, along with Damian Abel’s pace it really does make a huge difference.”

James ‘Ratty’ Everitt put Invicta in the lead after 52 minutes, wrong footing the Worthing keeper after a cross by Liam Friend had been flicked on.

But twenty minutes later Worthing hit back with an equaliser, before Ellis Remy put the Seasiders back in front three minutes later when he evaded the attentions of the Worthing defence and scored from an acute angle.

“James Everitt has done very well in the past couple of games and he got a vital goal for us on Saturday. It’s just his inconsistency sometimes that gets him left out of the team but we’ve had a word with him about that and it’s something he needs to work on because he has certainly got the quality – he just doesn’t always concentrate when he needs to.

“I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of a lot of the Folkestone players yet and as the side gels more and more and becomes more settled, they will only get better, no doubt about that.

“We made Worthing look quite ordinary for a lot of the game and that was pleasing. I was very pleased when we did respond with Ellis’s goal and on the whole I thought we deserved the win.

“I was surprised at the amount of the ball we did have because Worthing have a decent side now and they’ve been on a little bit of a run recently and I thought they would’ve put more of a fight up.

“To be fair, we had a fair few chances but from my point of view it was disappointing we didn’t take more of them and even though in the end it didn’t matter, in another game it might matter and it has mattered in the past so we’ve got to improve on that front”.

Cugley was also happy to clarify the position with the involvement of former Margate assistant manager Kevin Raine with the Cheriton Road club.

He explained: “Kevin is working for the club and has been doing an excellent job for me. He goes and watches opponents for me and gives me very good reports which I do use and he’s really experienced so he’s an excellent person to have with me.

“It’s really important that we go and watch opponents before we play them because it allows us to spot out weaknesses that we could possibly exploit and also so we can guard against their strengths.

“He’s come with me and Gordon Wallis to watch players and it’s nice to be able to get around midweek games and even on weekend games Kevin’s free to watch teams and players.”

Looking towards the weekend, the visit of Hampton and Richmond Borough is sure to pose a stern test for Invicta’s side.

Hampton and Richmond presently lie fourth in the Ryman Premier table, and are unbeaten in twelve matches.

At present they have won their last four games in a row, including victories over Margate (3-2) and Ramsgate (3-1).

Cugley commented on tomorrow’s visitors: “They would have gone top if they had played in the week and they’re on a roll at the moment. They’re a good side and have started scoring a lot of goals and we have had them watched and reports suggest they break very quickly so we’ll have to be on our guard against that.”

In the reverse fixture in December, Invicta could justifiably deem themselves unlucky to have come home defeated by a goal to nil, with Hampton getting the winner in the 78th minute with a header from centre back Rob Paris.

“When we went to theirs before Christmas we really should’ve got something out of the game because we outplayed them and they looked an ordinary side then. So if we approach the game on Saturday with the same attitude I am sure we’ll get something out of the game.”

The Folkestone squad will be boosted greatly by the long awaited return to the squad of influential skipper Adam Flanagan after a stomach injury. Dead ball expert Kevin Watson returns from overseas work commitments on Saturday morning, and will be also be in the squad.

Thanet resident Paul Lamb (ankle) and tough tackling midfielder Micheal Everitt (back) didn’t train this week as a precautionary measure, and will both face late fitness tests on Saturday morning to determine whether or not they will be able to take a place in the Folkestone squad.

Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 17^th February 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone