Cugley welcomes back trio

A resounding second half performance saw Folkestone Invicta come back from 2-0 down to take a well earned point away at Horsham in the Ryman Premier League on Saturday, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant.

Neil Cugley’s squad included Ellis Remy and Samuel Kola Okikiolu, two players released by the Seasiders earlier in the season due to financial constraints.

“We knew that Kola wasn’t with a club and with Flan being injured we knew we didn’t have a centre half so I gave Kola a ring in the week and he was really excited about coming back,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“Also, with Jonesy being out we put a seven day approach in for Ellis because we needed striking options. I really appreciate that they wanted to come back and I didn’t want them to leave last month but they had to because of financial reasons but they were delighted to come back and I’m pleased to have them back!

“Do not believe reports that these two are suddenly on loads more money because they’re only on what they were before so we’re not breaking the bank. Ellis has signed to the end of the season with a view to extending his contract if he plays well and Kola has signed a short term contract and we will review the situation in the next few weeks but if he gives the kind of performance he did yesterday then he will stay for a long time.

“With these people coming in it gave me the chance within the wage budget to bring in a few more players and we definitely needed these players otherwise we would have been struggling for a side.

“With some new Directors we won’t have to do as dramatic things as we’ve been forced to recently and hopefully it will materialise that we can have a strong team and bench and that we can start competing ready for next season.

“These new Directors won’t be chucking stupid money at the club but I feel that once they do come in, if there is a player I would like they would back me so I can bring better players in.

“I definitely will be looking to bring players in, in the New Year without a doubt and this time it may not mean that players will have to leave just to allow this to happen.”

Cugley’s side went in at the half time interval 2-0 down with Kevin Hemsley scoring his first goal for Horsham after being set up by Carl Rook. Rook, former Hastings United player who had a brief spell at Dover Athletic last season, scored the second heading in a cross from Nigel Brake.

Cugley said: “To be fair they were a good side and you could see why they were up there in the League. They dominated us in the first half and we couldn’t get a foothold in the game really.

“The two goals they scored were preventable but they took them well. Mark Saunders lost his man at a corner and they scored a header from that and really with his experience it shouldn’t have happened.

“Then their winger got past Ratty and put a decent cross in and they finished it off well at the far post and at that stage we deserved to be two down and it was really a mountain to climb.”

But it proved to be a mountain the Seasiders were capable of climbing in the second half with former Gillingham player Mark Saunders scoring six minutes into the second half converting a Ben Sly cross and Damian Abel equalised by putting the ball home just after the hour mark.

“The important thing was we were only two down at half time and some of the older heads such as Lamby and Saundo kept it tight until half time and it gave us the opportunity to maybe get back into it in the second half,” said Cugley.

“At half time I changed Liam Friend to left wing back and Lamby moved into Liam’s place so we had a bit more pace down the wings and also I spoke to Ben (Sly) about his starting position in midfield and he pushed on a bit more up the pitch and then he had more of an impact”.

Invicta lost Remy in the first half to injury but he was replaced by James Corbett who passed a late fitness test on a thigh strain.

“It didn’t help we lost Ellis so early on because we had to change our emphasis of attack but Jimmy Corbett had an excellent game; his touch was excellent, he really linked up the play well in the second half and it’s really nice to have him on the bench to bring on because he is a good player and he can influence games.

“I think the youngsters just grew up in the second half, they had to knuckle down and be counted and they did really well.

“It was a lot more mature performance and we converted our chances which is always pleasing. I definitely felt we could have won it; we had one final chance at the end and after the game chatting to their assistant manager who I know really well he said we were the only side that could have gone on and won it and we were by far the better side in the second half.

“Heads could’ve easily have fallen when we went 2-0 down but the second half performance is something we can really use and take into future games because we stayed strong and they did the club proud.”

The Seasiders also welcomed back committed midfielder Martin Chandler to the squad, who came on late in the second half for Ben Sly.

Chandler has recently been on loan at Hythe Town. The Folkestone boss said: “Things didn’t work out very well for him at Hythe but he’s a really nice local lad and I rang him up and said come along to training.

“He’s come along to training, did well and he’ll just be playing for the reserves for the most part when we get a few players back. Martin’s not getting paid at all with us.

“It’s up to him if he wants to have a long term future at the club because he’s got to work a hell of a lot on his fitness.

“He’s got to knuckle down and do the hard graft and maybe, fortunately or unfortunately, this is make or break for his football career if he actually has the desire to push himself to what he was when we played in the Southern Premier. He still has a future with us though, no doubt.”

Boxing Day sees Tonbridge Angels visit the Buzzlines Stadium, a side who gained promotion from Ryman Division One after beating Dover Athletic in the play off final last season.

Tonbridge beat Boreham Wood 3-1 on Saturday and Cugley said: “They’ve obviously done well, they’ve really strengthened their squad in the right areas over the summer without a huge budget like us and again you’ve got to praise them for that.

“Maybe their season in the Ryman first gave some of their players the experience and opportunity to get better and they’re undoubtedly a quality side now and I expect they’ll be around the play offs come end of the season.

“We’ve got to match them for effort and I know if we can consistently play like the second half against Horsham or the first half against Carshalton, we’ll win.”

Invicta will again be without Adam Flanagan, Paul Jones and Luke Howell, whilst Ellis Remy looks doubtful with the injury he picked up yesterday against Horsham.

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

Folkestone Invicta v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman Premier League
Boxing Day, Tuesday 26^th December 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone