Cugley: Both Ramsgate and Folkestone have done ever so well to get where we are now - EXCLUSIVE

Experienced bosses Neil Cugley and Jim Ward both go into tomorrow’s east Kent derby showdown at the Buzzlines Stadium in confident mood - having won their first games of the new season yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Goals from Leigh Bremner, Kevin Watson and Roland Edge, secured Folkestone Invicta an emphatic 3-0 win at Harlow Town’s new Stadium, Barrows Farm.

Liam Friend, 19, and Frankie Chapple, 18, put in immaculate performances at the heart of a four-man defence, which was missing the watching Samuel Kola Okikiolu, who was nursing a hamstring injury.

“Every manager says the same, it’s so nice to get that first win,” Cugley said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Praising Friend and Chapple, Cugley said: “The centre halves, they’re both kids really.

To play at this standard that they are, it’s a credit to both of them.

“When they’re that young, full credit to both of them. On that performance, both of them could kick on in football really.”

Cugley, now in his eleventh season at Cheriton Road, would so dearly love to defeat Ramsgate for the very first time.

“Every time we play Ramsgate, we’ve lost in everything we’ve done. If I’m a gambling man, it’s my turn to win,” he hoped.

“They’ve done well, you have to give them a lot of credit, but we’re getting better and better with a lot of changes and starting to get ahead.”

Cugley was criticised by fans on the club’s fans’ forum after his side crashed to a 4-1 home defeat on the opening day of the season - just eight days ago - and some were even calling a taxi for him.

But Cugley has been pleased with their last two performances, and tells fans not to panic so early.

“I don’t read them, so they don’t bother me,” he said of internet forums. “The expectations are high, people forget, where we were a few years ago.”

Looking ahead to the clash against Ramsgate, Cugley said: “We respect Ramsgate with what they’ve done, a bit like ourselves, we were both Kent League clubs not to long ago.

“People forget that we’re not Folkestone Town, we’re Folkestone Invicta, and Ramsgate have done what we have, getting out the Kent League not so long ago.”

But Cugley asks fans to be patient as his side start to turn the corner.

“We’ve had so many changes in our football club on the playing front, it’s not going to happen overnight,” he explained.

“We’ve had a lot of new players, it takes time but I know we’re getting there to maybe one of the better sides I’ve had a Folkestone, in a very high standard of football.”

Cugley compares Ramsgate to his own club, and said: “To be fair, we’re not a big club. We’re not in the big club (mould) like Maidstone, Ashford, Dover, or Margate.

“We’re a small club with a small budget but we do work hard, got a good team spirit.

“Both us and Ramsgate are similar, we’re not big clubs, we don’t throw money at it and we can only be jealous at those kind of clubs.

“I think a lot of clubs are jealous of what Folkestone and Ramsgate have achieved. It’s not one bloke throwing thousands and thousands (of pounds) at it, both clubs have build up from the Kent League and plugged along.”

Ramsgate boss, Jim Ward, meanwhile, was delighted that his side defeated bogey side, Leyton by three goals to two yesterday.

“It’s what I’ve been saying to the papers, the first three teams that we’ve played against, we haven’t beaten any of them,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Wimbledon, never beaten Tonbridge, or this crowd ever Leyton, so I’m more than happy to get four points out of the three games.

Reflecting on their first win of the season, following their 1-1 home midweek draw against Tonbridge Angels, Ward said: “We played very well, 3-2 flattered them.

“First half an hour the football was exemplary, we bossed the game, they didn’t get near us, just before half-time, they got a dubious penalty.

“Came out for the second half, again, it was nearly all us. Steffan Ball got a goal to make it 3-1 and more comfortably, and they got a late goal to make us jittery."

He added: “But no, it was a comfortable win really”

Looking forward to their 55-mile round trip tomorrow, Ward said: “I’ve seen Folkestone twice this year, so I know what they’ve got to offer.

“I went for a couple of players that he (Neil Cugley) signed - I couldn’t afford them.

“When these four fixtures came up, I said to the guys I wanted eight points. They’re tough fixtures, but if we beat Folkestone tomorrow, we’ve got seven, so it ain’t bad, but we’ve got to beat them.”

Ward expects his side to start firing on all cylinders shortly, by adding: “I think we’re quite solid, we’re not at full pelt but you understand that at this time of year.”

Visit club websites: 

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Ramsgate
Ryman Premier League
Bank Holiday Monday, 27^th August 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU