Folkestone Invicta players' to contribute towards fans' entrance charges

Thursday 02nd February 2012

FOLKESTONE INVICTA are aiming to put last weekend’s shock 4-0 home defeat against Merstham behind them as quickly as possible when they take Walton Casuals at Cheriton Road on Saturday.

Everyone connected with the club was bitterly disappointed by the loss of the Folkestone’s unbeaten home league record for the season, and both manager Neil Cugley and his players are hoping that their loyal fans will not desert them as they attempt to get their bid for a place in the end of season play-offs back on course.

Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk: “We were every bit as disappointed as the supporters were by last week’s defeat and as a gesture to the fans who have been really excellent getting behind us this season, gate prices will be slashed this weekend with myself and the players making up the shortfall.

"And, of course, we're determined to produce a better performance and most certainly a better result. It's vital that we keep our loyal fans behind us as we continue to aim for the play-offs at the end of the season.”

Admission for adults will be just £4 - half the usual £8 – while concessions are just £2 a head compared to the normal charge of a fiver.

Merstham are managed by Hayden Bird, who managed Blue Square Bet (Conference) South side Bromley last season, guiding the Hayes Lane outfit to the Kent Senior Cup Final, when they lost 4-1 to Dartford at Princes Park.

Cugley said: “The real difference between Merstham and us on Saturday was that they took their chances while – on the day we were found wanting in front of goal.”

The previous week’s goalless draw at Eastbourne was the first time in 19 games that Invicta had failed to find the net, and only the third league game in all where they had not scored (two of those ended in draws).

“Their centre-forward got a very good hat-trick – but when does anyone get a bad one” said Cugley.

“We missed Friendy’s pace in the middle at the back, but it’s fair to say that, for once our finishing was not as good as it could have been.”

Liam Friend – ever present until his one game ban on Saturday, and who has missed only a handful of games in all his time at the club – returns to the starting line-up against Walton Casuals, though midfielder Darren Marsden is unavailable this weekend meaning a minor re-shuffle with either Simon Austin or winger Antonio Gonnella expected to take the ex-Herne Bay player’s place in a minor reshuffle.

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Walton Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 4^th February 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU