Every game is important now, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA can use their sense of injustice over the dismissal of Stuart King and the eventual 5-0 defeat at Walton & Hersham to work in their favour when they take on bottom of the table Whyteleafe at Cheriton Road on Saturday.



Still quietly fuming over his striker’s ‘ridiculous’ red card last weekend, boss Neil Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk: “It was a terrible decision – one of the worst I’ve ever seen – but now all we can do is get on with it.

“It’s important that we do well in our home games, and Kingy can still play in those two before he starts his suspension.”

So, if the team turn the anger at last weekend’s injustice into increased determination, that could help them beat first Whyteleafe and then Walton Casuals in the space of five days.

Cugley was full of praise for the efforts of supporters in staging and playing in a game against the first team squad on Monday that raised £550 towards the cost of operations for injury-plagued forward Paul Jones.

“It was a brilliant night” said Cugley, “and it was great that the players and fans could enjoy such a good night together. I know Jonah really appreciates it.”

The Supporters v Players fixture may now become an annual event.

Folkestone’s increasingly renowned Noyz Boyz were very much involved and Cugley is delighted at the support that they, and other loyal fans, have been giving the players this season.

He said: “Every game is important now – especially the home games and we’ll need the crowd to get right behind us.  You can’t imagine how much the players appreciate that – and what a difference it makes.”

Invicta have twice beaten Whyteleafe 2-1 already this season – once in the league and then in an FA Cup replay also at Church Road where King grabbed both goals on each occasion.

King missed the initial cup-tie when strikes by Frank Chappell and Darren Smith earned Folkestone a 2-2 draw.

But despite his side’s decent record against The Leafe and the visitors’ lowly league position, manager Cugley is definitely not under-estimating the Surrey outfit.

“They got a much-changed side now from when we played them – with a new manager and quite a few new players,” said Cugley.

“They’ve currently got (Ian) Selley who’s got bags of experience and I’m told can still be very dangerous from dead ball situations. He’ll need watching especially.”

Midfielder Selley, 37, has had spells with Arsenal, Fulham, QPR and others in a distinguished Football League career, and is on loan from Ryman Premier League outfit Kingstonian.

Midfielder Darren Marsden (calf) is Cugley’s only major injury worry, though it appears that wingback Josh Vincent (groin) is already ruled out, meaning skipper Micheal Everitt is likely to continue at right-back.

Following Saturday’s game, Folkestone hope to take on Walton Casuals in a twice already postponed game at Cheriton Road next Wednesday, 28 March.

And chairman Lynn Woods has confirmed that reduced admission prices of £4 for adults and £2 concessions will apply for next Wednesday night’s game.

This move was first proposed for the next home game as a gesture to supporters by the manager and players following the disappointing loss of Invicta’s unbeaten home league record when they crashed 4-0 against Merstham on February 28.

However, Ryman League sanctions meant those reductions could only apply to the Walton Casuals match which was first postponed because of a frozen pitch and then called off following early March downpours.

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk  

Folkestone Invicta  v  Whyteleafe
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 24^th March 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU