I think we’ve got to be at our very best to get a result at Slough Town, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley says his side will have to be at their best to beat Slough Town in The FA Cup on Saturday.

Invicta are just one win away from reaching the First Round for only the second time in their history, the first time saw them lose 2-1 at Chester City back in 2005.

Standing in their way are Slough Town, a side that are in second-place in the Southern Premier League table with nine wins and two defeats in the league this season.

“They’re massive games, that’s what The FA Cup is about, to be a part of these kind of games,” said Cugley.

“They’re a good side, they’re on fire at the moment!  They were 4-0 down (at Merthyr Town) and won 5-4 during the week, so they’re going to be a good side.

“I think we’ve got to be at our very best to get a result - so let’s hope we are!

“It’s going to be difficult, nice ground, I know it’s 3G but it’s meant to be a very good one but we’re raring to go.”

Folkestone Invicta have defeated Greenwich Borough (3-2); Tooting & Mitcham United (3-1) and Aylesbury United (2-1) at Cheriton Road to reach this stage of the competition and the rewards for getting past Slough Town are massive for non-league clubs.

Cugley said: “What you do hope is the players realise that! Not many of my players have got to the First Round of The FA Cup.  They’re not seasons pros, a lot of them have come from the Isthmian South and they’ve got to realise how important it is.

“I think the last game was a bit nervy.  You can’t have nerves, you have to show what you’re about and show what a good player you are and look forward to the day.

“We’ve had three games all against lower opposition all at home so we can’t moan about the draws.  I’d rather be at home.  This is the first real difficult tie, without being disrespectful to the others, that we’ve had so bring it on!”

Cugley is keen to guide the club into the First Round again.

“That’s what it’s all about, that’s why it’s such a good competition. You all dream of that and that’s why I’m still in management. You still want to have those days, they’re great days and I want another one!  I had a lot of success at Ashford and The FA Cup is such a great competition.”

Folkestone Invicta have banked £15,000 in prize money from their FA Cup winning run and there is £12,500 up for grabs at the weekend.

Cugley revealed that the club have had a recent board meeting and funds are being allocated into enhancing his squad.

“We don’t run on a big squad and sometimes that takes its toll when you’re playing twice a week up until Christmas,” explained Cugley.

“We had a board meeting the other day. We’ll definitely look to bring in one or two. We are getting to a stage and that’s no disrespect, we had two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old on the bench and they’ll be on the bench on Saturday. They will be surrounded by experienced players than we’ve had recently and that shows where we are with it so we do need to get a few players in at Folkestone – and if we win another game I might get two or three in.”

Folkestone Invicta are currently in sixteenth-place in the Bostik Premier table with four wins, two draws and three defeats and they are 12 points clear of Worthing, who occupy the sole relegation berth.

Cugley said: “I think we’ve got enough to be alright. We’ve got players coming back from injury and we can be easily be top-half.

“You go out trying to improve on last year. I think we’re a little bit better than we were last year and that’s shown by getting further in the League than we did last year.  I’ll be very disappointed if we go to the last game this year.

Josh Vincent misses the Slough Town game through suspension.

“It’s a shame because he’s had a great season for us but injury wise we’re ok,” added Cugley.

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

Slough Town  v  Folkestone Invicta
The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 14^th October 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Arbour Park, Stoke Road, Slough, Berkshire SL2 5AY