Folkestone Invicta 4-2 Horsham - Cugley has striker on his wish-list

Saturday 11th September 2010

FOLKESTONE INVICTA 4-2 HORSHAM
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) First Qualifying Round
Saturday 11th September 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Cheriton Road

FOLKESTONE INVICTA gave their supporters four goals to celebrate for the first time since the final day of the 2008-09 season as a brace from striker Simon Austin and midfielder Darren Smith saw off a poor Horsham side as the Kent club booked their place in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

The last time that Cugley’s side had scored four goals in a single game was in a 4-0 home win over Walton Casuals - SIXTY competitive games ago.

Both sides went into the game with only three goals each during their opening six Ryman Premier League games so a dull encounter was expected and this was certainly a case for the first hour as Folkestone Invicta only had Austin’s 32nd minute finish to show for their efforts against a Horsham side that are rock bottom.

But the former Horsham striker doubled his tally after 64 minutes in what was up until then an uninspiring stalemate, before both sides went goal crazy in front of two sets of vocal supporters.

Smith made it 3-0 with only 19 minutes remaining, before Horsham pulled a goal back seven minutes later through substitute Steve Davies, before Smith scored his second and Horsham pulled a late goal back through striker Patrick Hardy.

Horsham were without striker Allan Tait, who scored 42 goals for Folkestone in 75 appearances before his move to Crawley Town back in February 2004, because his wife was in labour.

Folkestone’s James Everitt made a nine minute cameo appearance at the end as his girlfriend was also expecting a child.

Cugley was without midfielder Micheal Everitt, who is at the beginning of his three match suspension, although James Dryden (knee) was seen around the ground on crutches and Cugley hopes the striker will be back playing in a month’s time.

Cugley, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk inside his office afterwards, was a delighted man with the rare goal bonanza.

“I thought we done ever so well second half,” he said. “We had a bit of a moan up first half, I felt we could have been a bit livelier, but to be fair to the players it was quite a strong wind actually and took hold of that and second half I was pleased with that.

“It’s not often we score four goals so we’re not really a prolific goalscoring side so it was good to give the fans something to cheer.

“We know what we are, we’re hard-working. We’re never going to be the most exciting team. We do it from hard work and a bit of shape to us and by the end we got our just rewards.

“We won’t be the League’s most exciting side you’ll see, but we done alright.”

Folkestone should have broken the deadlock inside the opening two minutes when a mix-up between central defender Tom Graves and goalkeeper Mark Zawadski saw Austin’s stabbed shot blocked by the keeper, who advanced off his line to the corner of his penalty area.

Impressive midfielder Robbie Kember won the ball in midfield and exchanged passes with Austin before the ball found Paul Jones, who cut inside three players but Austin blasted the good chance over the Horsham crossbar.

Folkestone Invicta keeper Jack Delo wasn’t troubled at all during the first half as efforts from Paul Kennett (twice) and Graves’ looping header were all off target.

But Folkestone Invicta broke the stalemate in the 32nd minute through Austin.

After Josh Burchell and Liam Dickson combined down the left, hardworking striker Paul Jones cut the ball back for Austin to race into the penalty area, weave past a couple of defenders and clinically sweep the ball inside the bottom near corner with his right-foot.

Horsham’s first half shooting was poor, as following a diagonal pass from Steve Sargent (which wasn’t cut out by left wing-back Burchell), the ball ran loose for Jay Lovett to smash a shot on the turn, which sailed wide.

Folkestone were also wayward with their shooting on occasions as Burchell had time and space to cross from the left and after the keeper beat the ball out, Dickson’s left-footed shot from the 18-yard line ballooned over.

Folkestone were wasteful again just before half-time when Smith cut a left-wing corner back to Burchell and his driven shot was blocked by the Horsham defence and Jones blasted over, much to the frustration of Cugley.

Horsham failed to test Delo again when following Kennett’s squared free-kick, Sargent’s right-footed drive from 30-yards flashed past the post.

Sadly, the prediction of a single goal victory looked to be on the cards for the opening 15 minutes of the second half as both sides were resilient throughout the pitch.

But Folkestone grabbed a second after 64 minutes when Dickson’s ball over the top released Jones and after sliding the ball across Zawadski the ball rolled loose and Austin fired the ball into an empty net from seven yards.

What was unexpected was to see these two goal-shy sides score four goals between them during the final 20 minutes.

The game had been uninspiring up until this point and lacked the high tempo that is associated with teams that play Ryman Premier League football.

Folkestone went 3-0 up after 71 minutes when Jones released Smith (who timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap) through on goal and from six-yards he slammed his shot inside the near corner.

Full credit to Horsham’s vastly experienced manager John Maggs though, as just before his side kicked-off he made a double substitution and was rewarded when one of these players headed home in the 78th minute.

Dwain Clarke (who started on the left wing for the first half before partnering Hardy for the second half) was released down the inside right-channel and he delivered an excellent cross for the unmarked Davies to power his header past Delo from six-yards.

Smith scored the goal of the game just six minutes later, cracking a stunning right-footed curler from 25-yards which gave the diving keeper no chance as the ball flew into the corner of the Hornets net.

Horsham pulled a second goal back inside stoppage time when Kennett’s ball over the top of the Folkestone defence was driven past Delo by Hardy.

Folkestone substitute Peter Williams was denied by a fine block from Zawadski at the death, as Folkestone ran out comfortable winners.

Cugley was full of praise for the players that contributed towards their highest win for a long time.

“Austo’s pleased, he played for Horsham, played for them when they played Swansea (in the second round of the FA Cup in 2007) so he’ll enjoy those two goals,” said Cugley.

“Paul Jones, we obviously got back (from Ashford Town) and he’s been great, superb, he runs the line brilliantly, absolutely spot on every single game.

“Robbie Kember has give us that extra bit of quality and toughness and experience. With Jack (Jimmy Jackson) retiring we were desperate for somebody in there. I think he’s got better with each game so that’s pleasing.”

Kember, who arrived in the summer from Bromley, was ironically recommended to Cugley by East Grinstead based Tait, who endured an injury troubled season with Dartford last season and was released by Margate during this pre-season.

With £3,000 now in the bank through FA prize money, Cugley wants to win their next tie to bank another £4,500 - which will enable him to strengthen his squad.

“It does help, desperately, so hopefully we can kick-on,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable to think, 15 months ago we were not sure we’d even be here. Now we’re in the next round of the Cup, we’re in the Ryman Premier. It’s all credit to the players and their attitude. The majority are still the same as last year and they deserve a lot of credit.

“If we win the FA Cup I think they’ll be very big changes but otherwise we’ll just go with what we’ve got. We said that from day one we’ll keep these lads and they’ve got to learn and if they don’t we’ll go down. If they do, then we’ll stay up.

“I don’t think I’ll get any of it (the £3,000 prize money), but we haven’t got a big black hole any more, so it’s nice. Honestly it will help to push the club on. We haven’t got any big debts anymore (other than the CVA to pay), the club’s run a lot better and hopefully if we get through in another round we might even be able to bring somebody in.

“That will be a first for a few years here so we’ll wait and see. In the past as soon as we’ve gone out of the FA Cup we’ve had two or three players mostly leave so it’s quit nice not to have that probably for a while.

“I think there’s still areas where we can strengthen. I think you always look forwards because you want to get more goals.

“I felt the game should’ve been over at half-time and it wasn’t and on another day they might have gone on and scored and gone 1-0 up and it would’ve been a hard game.

“We had chances to put the game to bed, I felt, first half and we didn’t.

“In an ideal world it would be a forward. We’ve also got Jimmy Dryden, whose injured and in a month he could be back so we might not need to spend any money.”

Folkestone Invicta: Jack Delo, Josh Vincent, Josh Burchell, Liam Friend, Frankie Chappell,. Roland Edge, Robbie Kember (James Everitt 81), Liam Dickson, Paul Jones (Luke Webb 90), Simon Austin, Darren Smith.
Subs: Niall Jackson, Dan Hulme.

Goals: Simon Austin 32, 64, Darren Smith 71, 84

Horsham: Mark Zawadski, Jack Page, Mark Knee, Tom Graves (Steve Davies 71), Jahamal King, Paul Kennett, Steve Sargent (Adam Hutchings 71), Jay Lovett, Dean Wright (Gary Charman 46), Patrick Harding, Dwain Clarke.
Subs: Ian Payne, John Westcott.

Goals: Steve Davies 78, Patrick Hardy 90

Booked: Dwain Clarke 58

Attendance: 327
Referee: Mr Robert Smith (Croydon, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Simeon Potter (Sutton, Surrey) & Mr Roger Wells (Coulsdon, Surrey)