We'll turn it around, insists Cugley

After a 5-1 defeat by local Ryman Premier rivals Margate, Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley was adamant his squad was capable of turning the present situation around, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant - www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Invicta have lost three and drawn one of their first four Ryman Premier League matches, which have seen Folkestone come up against three of the strongest sides in the Premier division, in particular Heybridge Swifts and Margate.

With the absence of regular right wing back James Everitt through a knee injury, Cugley put former Margate player Paul Lamb, back after a three match suspension, into the heart of defence alongside Lee Shearer. Captain Adam Flanagan was deployed as a striker alongside Paul Jones, flanked by Matt Carruthers and Walid Matata, in an attacking Invicta line up.

"Well obviously we changed the system as in the games before we have not been hurting teams and I wanted to change to excite the fans and get some goals," explained Cugley.

"I thought Matt Carruthers and Walid stretched them and we did look dangerous – it is the first game this season where we have actually looked dangerous as an attacking unit.

"I know it was a bad result for us but the strength of our attacking threat is something we want to continue to display in the next games.

"We looked a lot sharper and busier about the park and we took a gamble putting Flan up front. We’ve got the new signing in the squad (Remy) and if he trains well on Wednesday he could go in the side up front on Saturday, with Flan at the back where we need him to be honest. I thought he (Flannagan) done ever so well up front but he is such a quality centre half and you are going to miss him in your defence."

The final scoreline masks the number of chances the Seasiders created throughout the match. Cugley said: "I thought we played some really good stuff and we certainly created loads and loads of chances and on that side of things I was obviously pleased.

"I think the quality in their finishing was the difference really but we didn’t defend that well and we did get caught a few times."

Margate striker Danny Hockton scored a hat trick and continued his impressive start to the season in the Margate attack alongside James Pennock.

Cugley said: "Not a lot of clubs have got people like Hockton and the lad Jolly who was there on Saturday for Heybridge. They are both excellent players and are certainly going to get any side goals.

"Margate have spent a lot of money and to be fair they have spent it well on a number of quality Conference players and I’m sure they will be right up there at the end of the season."

James Pinnock got on the scoresheet for Margate with a fine curling effort in the second half, and Jimmy Jackson also scored.

Cugley added: "At half time I didn’t think we were out of it and we came out in the second half and started well. But their third goal was a great goal and it killed us off really."

It was Matata who scored a consolation goal for Folkestone, continuing his habit of regularly scoring against Margate. His manager stated: "I thought he played ever so well and he thoroughly deserved his goal. I think he will get better and better I really do and he is likely to be in the team Saturday as well."

Programme readers will have noticed in Cugley’s notes that he stated he was talking to players with a view to strengthening his squad.

"We’re talking to someone about bringing in a loan player for Saturday who is a wide man. Ellis Remy will be coming into the squad on Saturday and there might be another defender there as well.
The players who we are talking to are Football League standard."

Striker Remy who was signed at the Buzzlines Stadium last week on non contract terms, was not eligible to play against Margate as Ryman League rules stipulate that a player cannot play for two different clubs within 14 days.

Cugley said: "Ellis is a good 6 feet tall and at that height will be a big presence to have up top. Otherwise the ball just keeps coming back like on Saturday and you are under pressure all the time.

"When you’ve got someone up there challenging for the ball and winning balls it can take that pressure off and if the ball comes back down into the midfield area we can win the battles in there and hopefully we can get straight back on the attack."

When new players come in, Invicta are certain to be releasing players to make way for their arrival. The Folkestone manager explained: "We’ve had to be patient as here at Folkestone we can’t go out and just buy players and I’ve been patient. I know what players we need and I will bring them in.

"Although I am generally very loyal to my players, some will have to go. We do not want to be stuck down the bottom of the league."

Invicta face AFC Wimbledon away at Kingsmeadow this coming Saturday, a side who have not hidden their ambition to win promotion this season. AFC have drawn their last three games and Cugley remarked: "There will be a lot of pressure on them and they are one of the big clubs and consequently they are expected to do well.

"We will go there and get at them and see what comes out of the game. We knew we would have a difficult start and we’ve got Bromley after who are meant to be big spenders in this League."

Cugley will undoubtedly put out an attacking unit to ask stern questions of the AFC defence in order to take some points home from the match.

He said: "We will go at them and see what they are about. When I was at Ashford we used to do it a lot and here we want to play fast, attacking football.

"I think I have now got people who can play that way and who can get at teams. Rather than digging in and playing five at the back and being very defensive and hoping to nick something, we will now be a more attacking side. Ok you will lose some games that way but you will certainly win them".

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