Kentish Football 
It would be great if we could make the play-offs again, says Neil Cugley
Folkestone Invicta sit in eleventh-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 30 points from 20 games.
Gavin Rose brings his Dulwich Hamlet side to Cheriton Road on the back of a thirteen match unbeaten run, sitting one point clear of Maidstone United, who have one game a hand.
“Yes, of course it’s a good test for us,” said Cugley, when speaking to www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.
Folkestone Invicta then visit third-placed Leatherhead next Tuesday and second-placed title favourites Maidstone United seven days later – those two midweek games either side of a trip a week on Saturday to face a Merstham side who have beaten Invicta twice already this season.
Cugley said: “We do have some tough games coming up – and it was important that we won the last two (Kent derbies against Whitstable Town and Faversham Town) to boost everyone’s spirits around the club.
“But if we can pick a few points up in the next month or so, our fixtures don’t look as tough in March and April and we can hope to finish the season strongly.”
Playing-wise, newcomer Dane Luchford – who has been turning out for Kent Invicta League leaders Phoenix Sports in recent weeks – and has previously played for Faversham Town, Horsham and Whitstable Town - could make his home debut.
Folkestone may also have the versatile Shane Hamshare in their squad if the former Dover player - and son of Folkestone Town and Invicta legend Chris Hamshare – manages to secure his release from Whitstable by the weekend.
Hamshare has just returned from a spell in the USA – trained with Invicta on Tuesday and boss Cugley admits that he could prove a valuable addition as he is able to play in defence or midfield and also has a goal or two in his locker, judged on his record at previous clubs including Dover Athletic, Faversham Town and Whitstable Town.
The increasingly impressive Nat Blanks was unwell earlier this week, but the manager hopes will have recovered enough to come into contention while Liam Dickson has trained twice since recovering from a knee injury suffered in the 1-0 win over Tooting & Mitcham a month ago.
“Nat should be okay – I’m hoping it’s just a 24 or 48-hour bug he’s had - but Dicko should definitely be back in the squad again,” said manager Cugley.
Meanwhile, Cugley has confirmed the appointment of long-serving and very much in-form midfielder Darren Smith as player-coach in place of Roland Edge, who becomes assistant manager alongside Cugley's long-time Number Two, Micky Dix.
"Edgey can't get down to training so easily these days, so I've agreed we only need him on matchdays,” explained Cugley.
"And Smithy has agreed to take on more of the coaching. He's such an excellent pro and the lads have looked up to him for a long-time, so I'm sure that will work out well.
"It's no surprise that, given the form he's in Darren's had a couple of offers (from other clubs).
"But he's assured me he's happy where he is as long as we are trying to get somewhere.
"As I've said, if we can carry on picking up points in the next month or so, our fixtures look somewhat easier in March and April, and it would be great if we could make the play-off places once again."
Folkestone Invicta v Dulwich Hamlet
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 12th January 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd