Cugley waits for offers for Dryden

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley was full of praise for star-midfielder Jimmy Jackson as he helped the club move a step towards guaranteeing their Ryman League status, writes Tom Marchant.

It was Jackson who proved to be Invicta’s saviour last Saturday afternoon against Whitstable Town with a wonder free kick that proved the only goal of the encounter in a match where the Seasiders were unlucky not to have netted several more.

“It was a class finish from a class player,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk. “If you get him in and around the box and on free kicks, you think he’ll always test the keeper at least. He’s taken it brilliantly and got us a much-needed win.

“His legs aren’t what they used to be perhaps but his quality on the ball is second to none and the quality of his set piece delivery is why we got him and he keeps showing us why.”

Jacko’s strike came midway through the second half where Invicta were creating the majority of the chances but Lady Luck has not been on Folkestone’s side in front of goal recently.

“First quarter of an hour I didn’t think we had sharpness at the back but maybe that was because we haven’t played much recently. After that I thought we dominated the game and it was just disappointing we didn’t score more goals,” said Cugley.

“Their keeper has played well and we seem to have a bit of bad luck recently with opposition keepers coming down and putting in a performance. But Smithy has taken one round the keeper and had it cleared off the line, Byrnesy done well to get on the end of one and has poked his shot wide and Jimmy (Dryden) has had a couple of headers which the keeper has made saves from.

“It’s disappointing we’re dominating games but not scoring enough goals but it’s something we will continue to plug away with and it’ll come. Apart from the Ashford game which I thought should’ve been 0-0, we are creating the chances – it’s just putting them away.”

The three points clinched over the Oystermen cements the Seasiders position in mid table, but they remain within three victories from the play off positions, highlighting the close nature of the division.

“On the negative side of things, I think two more wins will give us enough points to stay up and then once you’ve got those you can start aiming to finish as high as possible,” said Cugley. “As long as the players believe in themselves and we take our chances, there’s no reason why we can’t finish a good few places higher than where we are at the moment.”

The Folkestone boss was pleased that the club got through last week‘s meeting with the tax man unscathed, for the time being.

He said: “With the meeting last week the important thing is we now know we will be around until the end of the season and hopefully we can kick it on from there. We need to make sure we can stay in this League by getting enough points but also by getting things right off the field.”

The Seasiders make the trip to Burgess Hill Town this weekend. The Hillians visited the Buzzlines Stadium back in September and have been one of the best footballing outfits Invicta have faced this season.

“It’s nice to know that when we go down there they will try and play football,” praised Cugley. “They’re not doing too well at the minute though and we want to go down there and get a result. They haven’t won in their last three and lost at Ashford at the weekend (4-1) and I know some of the managers of sides they’ve played recently so I’ll be talking to them as well before we head down there.”

Goalkeeper Paul Egan has returned to Cheriton Road and the manager has a decision to make regarding Billy Swallow; whether to take the youngster with the squad for the weekend clash or play him in the reserves to improve his match fitness.

“He’s (Swallow) trained hard and has come through well and I need to decide what to do with him this weekend but it’s good to have him back,” said Cugley.

“I bumped into Paul (Egan) the other day down in Hythe and asked him if he wanted to come back and I’m pleased he has as he gives us a keeper on the bench and he’s happy to help the Club out. Alex (Conyers) was only 17 and it means he can play for the reserves and Paul comes on the bench with us.”

Invicta’s only injury concern is James Everitt, who passed a late fitness test last weekend but who suffered a recurrence of an injury behind his knee. The younger of the Everitt brothers will be assessed in training this week and Cugley remains hopeful he will be available for the weekend.

The rumour mill continues to turn out stories of the future destination of transfer listed Jimmy Dryden, although the Folkestone gaffer was only willing to reveal the striker is in discussions with a couple Kent clubs, with a deal likely to be struck sooner rather than later.

Cugley added, “Obviously we have given him permission to talk to other clubs and there’s a couple interested but they have to come back to me as he is a contracted player and then we decide what the next avenue is.”

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Burgess Hill Town v Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 24^th January 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Leylands Park, Maple Drive, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 8DL