Cugley demands improvement against Urchins

Folkestone Invicta travel to newly promoted AFC Hornchurch this Saturday for the Ryman Premier League encounter.

The Seasiders make the trip on the back of a 4-0 defeat at home to high flying Hendon at the weekend, a match which saw debuts for recalled midfielder Charlie Glyde and striker Richard Shittu.

Commenting on the performance of the pair, Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk: “Charlie went off to Sittingbourne on loan after Ashford and I had reports back that he’d done well.

“He did fairly well Saturday. He gives a little more balance to the team in that he’s got a good left foot and is comfortable on the ball and that’s what we need more of, players who are comfortable on the ball as we’ve got to undoubtedly improve our passing.”

Versatile Glyde who can operate in midfield or defence, was snapped up on a one year contract by Folkestone after being released by League One side Gillingham along with centre back Frankie Chappell, who has excelled in the Invicta defence this season.

Both youngsters are highly rated and were signed on the recommendations of player-coach Mark Saunders and former assistant manager Mark Patterson, who worked with the pair at the Gillingham academy.

East London based striker Shittu has been training with the squad for several weeks whilst awaiting international clearance from the F.A after playing football in Poland.

Last weekend was his second match with the reserves as they demolished Erith Town 5-1.

Richard himself grabbed a goal and played a part in the other four, including squaring for James Corbett to put away (involved because he couldn’t attend first team training on the Wednesday) and teeing up John Ovard for a sweetly struck volley on his way to an impressive hat trick.

“He (Shittu) did alright”, said Cugley. “He showed that he is still a bit rusty because he’s only played two reserve team games and his last competitive game before that was in March so it’s still difficult to tell how he will get on in the future at this level and how he did on Saturday.

“With the injuries before the match though we had to take the risk of putting him in and I don’t think he let us down.

“There wasn’t enough quality though reaching the front two and it was hard to properly assess their performance together because they were given nothing. With vital players missing I think that showed up really.”

The encounter with Hendon was played on a heavy pitch at the Buzzlines Stadium after substantial rain recently which had resulted in a number of matches being postponed at the weekend.

The Invicta boss refused to use the conditions as an excuse for the performance from his side.

“I can’t complain about the conditions, they obviously weren’t ideal but we’ve played on a lot worse. I wanted a game after two weeks off so I’ve got no complaints.”

Charlie Mitten again demonstrated his shot stopping abilities twice within the opening twenty minutes, on one occasion superbly denying Wayne O'Sullivan in a one on one.

Mitten has shown impressive form in goal with his handling and shot stopping since his return to the side in the beginning of October after a thigh injury but was unable to prevent Casey MacLaren scoring after 22 minutes with a well struck shot that went in off the post after Kevin Watson had initially lost the ball on the right.

“I did think at half time by only being a goal down we could get a goal to get back into the game and the lads were fired up going into the second half.

“It’s that sort of quality though that we are lacking to come back from one down and at the moment in and around the box we are lacking confidence.”

A second half brace from O’Sullivan and one from Brian Haule sealed the victory for Hendon, although perhaps the game may have turned if Ellis Remy had seen his effort reach the back of the net just before the hour mark – instead the curling shot hit the inside of the post and virtually skidded across the goal line with Folkestone unable to put the loose ball away.

Cugley said: “I thought we defended very poorly in the second half. Especially the second goal where we just gave a free header away. The third and fourth they worked very well and their passing in and around the box was excellent I thought.

“The disappointing aspect of the game was the fact that the one area we have always been good is the defence but generally I think we’ve got to play much better.

“We trained last night and depending on how heavy the pitch is Wednesday we will be training on it then too.

“I think Hendon were better than us and you can’t take that away from them. They’re on a terrific run and Saturday you could see why that was.

“I can’t fault our lads for effort but I am looking at the quality because we just didn’t use the ball as well as I would’ve liked”.

The Seasiders went into the match without the influential Mark Saunders who was unlucky to get a heavy knock on the knee during last Wednesday’s training session.

Typifying Folkestone’s luck at the moment, the knock came right at the end of the session.

James Corbett was ruled out through a migraine which he had been suffering from since midweek and Cugley was not prepared to risk playing popular striker Leigh Bremner as he nears a fully recovery from a hamstring injury.

“All three should be ok for Saturday and that’s going to be a huge relief,” said Cugley. “I still think when we have all our players fit we are more than capable of holding our own in this league and you only had to look at the 11 match unbeaten run to see that.”

Recent rumours have been circulating surrounding the future of local youngster Ben Sly.

The lightning quick attacking midfielder, who is highly rated at the Buzzlines Stadium, has not played many matches so far this season and has been reported to have been loaned out to Kent League neighbours Hythe Town.

The Folkestone Manager was happy to clarify the situation with the twenty year old.

He explained: “It is possible that Ben might go on loan somewhere because at the moment we have a fairly big squad despite the injuries.

“He hasn’t gone yet but he’s a sensible lad and he came to me to ask for a loan move and that’s fair enough because he knows he needs games to sharpen up and to keep improving.

“He has been playing for the reserves but they do not have any mid week games unfortunately. He’s still training with the Club and it’s not even a certainty that he will go yet. We just need to sit down with him over the next couple of days and clarify what’s for the best.”

Looking towards this Saturday’s match against AFC Hornchurch, the hosts are only separated from the Seasiders by two points but with two matches in hand.

With six clubs between the Urchins and Folkestone, this only goes to prove how tight the League remains and as Cugley pointed out two victories would take his side back into the realms of mid table.

“We’re having them watched tonight and I’ve already had a few reports back already and they’re another good side. They’ve got a lot of pace about them and they have some good goal scorers so it’s a game where we’re going to have to stay tight in to get anything out of it”, said Cugley.

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

AFC Hornchurch v Folkestone Invicta
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 8^th December 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Stadium, Bridge Avenue, Upminster, Essex RM14 2LX