Kentish Football 
Allan Tait will enjoy his football here, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley
Thursday 18th November 2010
FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says the firepower of new signing Allan Tait and the fit-again James Dryden is crucial if the club are to beat the drop, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Seasiders are presently third-from-bottom in the Ryman Premier League table and have scored only nine league goals in 15 league games.
But Tait has agreed to sign for the club permanently, following short spells with Margate and Horsham already this season and Dryden played 90 minutes (for the first time since April) of their 2-1 after extra time defeat away to Cray Wanderers in the Championship Manager Cup on Tuesday night.
“To be fair, they left a few out and we left a few out, but it was a really good game of football, I’ve got to say that,” Cugley told www.kentishfootball.co.uk of the Hayes Lane clash.
“Both sides played some great stuff. We’re disappointed we missed a lot of chances in the second half. We should have sealed the victory.
“No disrespect it’s not the end of the world (going out of) that competition. I was pleased with the way we played and I was pleased that James Dryden played 90 minutes, which was a big bonus for us.”
Cugley thinks the Ryman League should shake up their League Cup competition to create more interest.
He said: “We had two not very good draws as we went to Croydon (Athletic) and Cray in midweek and you’re not going to make any money from the games and players are taking time of work and getting to the games.
“If they can regionalise it a lot better and play one of the local sides and go from there wouldn’t be too bad.
“People have had a lot of games and if you run on a small squad that some clubs do, like ourselves, it can be a problem, but it’s alright. The quality of our game was of a high standard so it was enjoyable.”
Cugley is delighted to have re-signed Tait and hopes the East Grinstead based striker’s talents in front of goal will secure the club’s Ryman Premier League status.
He said: “Allan Tait’s decided to stay. I think he quite likes the club and I get on with him. He’s had a couple of moves this year that haven’t worked out for him so he’s going to stay with James Dryden up front and (Paul) Jones will be back hopefully around Christmas time.
“Maybe we’ll have enough fire power then to stay up. You only have to look at the goals for column to see why we’re struggling in the league. Suddenly you get Tait and Dryden up front then teams will be worried.”
Supporters may ask where the club has got the money from to sign Tait, and Cugley’s response to that question was, “To be fair, again he’s fallen out with a club (Horsham) so I suppose we’re a bit lucky we don’t have to pay loads of money or anything like that.
“He wants to enjoy his football again and that’s not happened at Margate early on and Horsham so he’s going to come to us and hopefully enjoy his football and get on with it.
“He’s a crowd favourite and a favourite of mine and he makes you play good football as he’s a good player as it makes us play to feet.
“Hopefully he’ll do well and enjoy his football again. I think that he’s realised it hasn’t worked out for him and he’ll start enjoying his football and hopefully that will turn us around as well.”
Cugley takes his side to Eastleigh, a side that are in eleventh place in the Blue Square Bet South table, in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy, on Saturday.
“We have to go there and enjoy it and hopefully the young lads will do themselves some credit,” said Cugley.
“We know the other ones have played a better standard so they will be used to it so it will be interesting to see how they cope with it.
“Eastleigh are hot favourites but we’ll go there with a set plan and make sure we enjoy it and want the ball.
“One thing about us is we like to play good football so we’ll take that into that game.”
Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk
Eastleigh v Folkestone Invicta
FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 20th November 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Silverlake Stadium, Ten Acres, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9HT
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd