Cugley disappointed with late postponement by "negative" referee - EXCLUSIVE

The Essex referee arrived at Cheriton Road at 6:30pm and after walking across the pitch with his two assistants, Messrs Baker and Mead, walked into the boardroom insisting that the game stood no chance of going ahead.

However, despite the efforts of the home club’s ground staff and one member of the Staines Town management team, following another pitch inspection, Mr West then decided to wait until another twenty minutes - 7pm - to make his decision.

A ball was kicked around the soaked playing surface and despite the frantic efforts of at least four people working on the pitch and with Staines Town’s players waiting in front of the players’ tunnel, Mr West eventually called the game off due to waterlogging at 7:15pm.

As both clubs still have four Ryman Premier League games left to play, the fixture has been hastily re-arranged for this Wednesday, 16^th April (7:45pm).

With his side presently in the relegation zone, Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk was disappointed that Mr West didn’t start the game.

“I thought the referee was a bit negative as soon as he got here,” he said.

“I’m not saying it’s fit or not fit but I thought he was very negative, he didn’t want to play and that’s disappointing.”

It’s not the first time that Mr West has been involved in calling off one of Folkestone’s games this season.

“It’s the same referee that we had at Billericay,” recalled Cugley. “He called it off for a tiny little area and I was well shocked then.

“But this one I can understand, he just never seemed that positive (to play this game tonight).

“It’s a shame as both teams wanted to play and I think maybe we could have started and see how it went.

“They (one member of Staines’ management team) did their best. We had all our people out there. What else can you do really?”

Looking at the present table, Folkestone must win two of their last four games to retain their current status.

After Swans’ return on Wednesday night, Cugley takes his side to local rivals Margate this weekend before ending their campaign with two home games; against AFC Hornchurch (21^st April) and Maidstone United (26^th April).

And Cugley added: “We’re getting to a stage where we need to win two games.”

Fans that arrived at the ground at Cheriton Road found that the turnstiles were unmanned - as the club didn’t want to take any money from fans - but they went home disappointed and will have to wait another 48 hours for this match to, hopefully, go ahead.

Folkestone Invicta fans are advised to tell people without internet access the date of the re-arranged fixture.

Meanwhile, a testimonial has been arranged for Micheal Everitt on Thursday 1^st May (7:45pm).

A Folkestone Invicta XI will lock horns with a Gillingham XI for the midfielder who has started 261 games for his home-town club.

Admission prices have been set at £5 (adults) and £2.50 (children) and Scott Lindsey, James Dryden, Adam Flanagan, Mark Saunders and Mark Patterson are amongst the former Invicta favourites that are expected to feature.

Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk