We certainly owe Ramsgate one, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley hopes its third time lucky against local rivals Ramsgate tomorrow.

Invicta travel to Southwood Stadium for the third time this season, still looking for a result to go in their favour.

The Rams became the first side to beat Invicta in the Ryman League Division One South with a 2-0 victory at Southwood in August and then took the honours again in the Robert Dyas Cup – winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

“We should have got something in both those games,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk.

"In the League Cup tie, particularly, we were the better side but just didn't take our chances to have won fairly comfortably."

Of the two cup games, tomorrow’s FA Trophy tie was always going to be the most important, especially with £2,500 in prize money at stake.

Cugley said: "You don't want to lose to the same side twice - but that's done now, so I'm really looking forward to this game.

"We are playing much better now and getting the results - most of our players like a bit of give in the ground.

"We certainly owe them one, and there's a few bob in it, so it's good financially and you want to get through a few rounds.

"The longer you can stay in it the more it helps the club."

Reflecting on their 2-2 draw at Whitstable Town in midweek, Cugley said: “We played well again and Whitstable aren’t a bad side at all.  They’ve got some good players and are unbeaten at home in the league, so we were not too disappointed with a draw.”

Cugley is unlikely to call on Darren Smith again this weekend after the midfielder's reappearance for the last two games.

He said: “We shouldn’t need Smudger this weekend. He played well in those two games (against Horsham and Whitstable) and I’m very grateful to him for keeping his word, though I respect the fact that he wants to cut down on his football commitments – I’ll probably leave it up to him.

Midfielder Micheal Everitt shrugged off a groin problem to play at Whitstable and seemed to come through that game fairly well.

Cugley said: "Mev's such a good pro.  He's banned for one game after this weekend but he's probably fit enough to get through the game at Ramsgate knowing he's got a game off after that."

Should tomorrow’s tie end all-square, the replay will be at Cheriton Road next Tuesday.

Cugley said: “That wouldn’t be the end of the world. Since Jim Pellatt’s been chairman we’ve hardly played at home.

"The way the fixtures have gone, especially with these two cup-ties, it's been one game at home and six or seven away.

"That could well have been difficult financially 12 months ago, but the club is being run so much better now that it's nothing like the sort of problem it used to be."

Jim Pellatt has accepted an invitation from his fellow directors to take over as chairman at Folkestone Invicta.

Mr Pellatt, who had a spell as interim chairman some time ago, became chief executive towards the end of last season, and has effectively been running the club alongside Cugley for several years now.

Mr Pellatt said: "I am very pleased to lead the club but I will be continuing to do the same job here as I have been doing for the last few years.

"Football is just as much a team game off the field as it is on it, so everyone who gives their time, their skills and their expertise to the club is equally important.

"A couple of weeks ago the club underwent an FA compliance review where every aspect of how it is being run comes under the microscope.

"We have now received the FA Financial Regulation Officer's confidential report, which the board have to formally accept, but we can say that in all crucial aspects the club received a clean bill of health."

Matters that came under the FA's scrutiny included VAT records and returns, cash ledgers, payroll and players' contracts, payroll tax deductions etc and the keeping of records regarding many aspects of the football club.

Mr Pellatt said that the club will be straightaway adopting one or two minor suggestions from the authority over how things can be improved.

A club statement added: “Invicta have been working without a chairman since the acrimonious departure of Mark Jenner who quit midway through the club's first home league game of the season on August 12 by when it had become evident that he was totally at odds with the way the other members of the board want to take the football club forward.”

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

Ramsgate  v  Folkestone Invicta
The FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 18^th October 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN