I think ours is a little bit of a false position, admits Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley admits his side are in a false position in the table at present.



Cugley’s side are in second-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with four wins and four draws from ten games.

They travel to league leaders Crawley Down Gatwick on Saturday, a side that have secured five wins and two draws from their eight league outings.

But Cugley admitted: “I think ours is a little bit of a false position. We’ve had a lot of injuries and I don’t think we’re not playing anywhere near a top of the table side.

“Crawley Down Gatwick have got a lot of experienced players.  Their manager, John Maggs knows a lot of people around that area.  Obviously he was manager at Crawley Town for a long time then Horsham.  He had good sides at Crawley and Horsham and he’s got a few bob and he’ll spent it in the right areas. He’s got some good experienced players so it doesn’t shock me that they’re top.”

When asked what kind of game he is expecting in West Sussex on Saturday, Cugley replied, “I think fairly open because of the way we play. They’re the home side and we’re not really the ones who go anywhere and just close it up so I think it will be quite an open game. 

“They score and let in a few. It should be an open, good game. The pitch wasn’t very nice last year so hopefully the pitch will be a bit better this year.”

There are only seven points that separate Folkestone Invicta to second-from-bottom side Leatherhead.

“I’ve said quite a few weeks ago and I still say it again, I think apart from Maidstone, who have the backing because of the great following they get, I think everybody’s the same standard. The standard’s improved especially the sides in the middle to bottom of the league last year have improved big time and every game is difficult now and it makes it a difficult league.

“Last year I near enough picked the top five and it finished up the top five. This year every game is difficult and I haven’t seen a poor side this year really.  I haven’t seen an outstanding one.”

When asked whether he can predict the top five again this year, which currently contains Crawley Down Gatwick, Folkestone Invicta, Herne Bay, Walton & Hersham and Faversham Town, Cugley replied, “No! I can’t! I’ve got no idea!  It’s completely different from your Bognor’s, Whitehawks and Dulwich’s and all that lot last year.

“It’s really difficult. Even the team near the bottom could be at the top.  You’re dead right. It’s a really strange League. It seems that it doesn’t matter if you’re home or away. 

“I think we’re having a poor patch at the moment but yet we’re still at the top – it’s amazing!”

Cugley had some food for thought after his young side were knocked out of the Ryman League Cup at the first attempt last night, after losing 4-2 on penalties to Ryman Premier League side Kingstonian, after fighting back from 2-0 down to grab a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes at Cheriton Road.

“I was absolutely delighted,” said Cugley.  “We had seven players not available, six through injury and one suspended. I let Roddie Hayward play in goal instead of Jack Delo, so I had eight people not playing and some of the lads who played, played well, which was pleasing.

“Six of them should be back on Saturday and what this has done it’s given me a little bit of food for thought with these others.  It’s nice. I enjoyed the game. It was a shame we lost on penalties.  It wasn’t a priority.  It never was.

“It was good to see some of the lads come in and do well and I was really pleased with them.

“We were 2-0 down and could easily have folded. We played some good football, showed really good character and there were some pleasing performances. 

“Some of the first team games have been good. We haven’t got the results we wanted but I think they’re fairly open and it’s how it is really.”

“Kingstonian made a few changes, they didn’t make too many changes that we had to. We’ve done alright. They’re a good side, a big club and 2-0 down at half-time it could have easily gone away from us but instead we really dug in and I’m really pleased.”

“The pleasing thing it shows we could have a squad. I haven’t had a squad for a couple of years now. I’ve had a team and it’s been really difficult to have anybody on the bench or pushing other players for places but that’s slowly going to change after a couple of weeks.

“We’ve got Saturday and then we’ve got ten days off so hopefully by that time we could be at full-strength squad wise and then who knows? We could improve and maybe we could get into the play-offs.”

When asked how he keeps going during stormy waters, Cugley replied, “Yes, it is hard but it gave me a big lift last night. It really did give me a big lift. I was really chuffed. I just felt really pleased the people I got in. They give you a lift sometimes when you’re a bit down when results don’t’ go well and it’s hard work but that gave me a big lift last night.

“Getting some injured players back is a big bonus to us. I’m looking forward to the season now.”

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

Crawley Down Gatwick  v  Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 20^th October 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Haven Sportsfield, Haven Centre, Hophurst Lane, Crawley Down, West Sussex RH10 4LJ