Let's make a name for ourselves on the day, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley says his side are playing Staines Town at the right time, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Swans arrive at Cheriton Road sitting at the foot of the Blue Square Bet South table and Cugley is hoping his side produce a shock when the two sides meet in the FA Carlsberg Trophy on Saturday.

Looking forward to the final qualifying round clash, Cugley said: “They are two standards above and they’ve got some very good players and a lot of those players had that good Cup run not so long ago.  Good players’ don’t become bad overnight but if you’ve got a good time to play them, I suppose it is now.”

Cugley says a team of confident players wearing amber and black striped shirts will ensure the club book their place in the First Round and a potential date against one of the Conference Premier giants.

“Sometimes a bit of luck always comes (in handy) and being confident really,” said Cugley.  “It’s very important that some of our younger players’ want to make a name for themselves on the day.  When we played Metropolitan Police and Horsham and to be fair at Lewes the younger players’ did themselves a lot of credit really how they played and how they handled the situation.

“Staines have always been a good footballing side.  A lot of their players are attack minded and it should be quite an open game.  If anyone comes to watch it, it should be an exciting game.”

Cugley revealed that fit-again striker, Stuart King, will start the game on the bench.

“He’s just a class forward,” he said.  “He won’t start the game as he’s been out for three months.  It’s nice to have him back.  He’s slowly getting fit now.  I think maybe a week Saturday, if he does train hard he could be in the side by then.”

And Cugley revealed he has decreased the intensity of training this week going into the FA Trophy tie.

He said: “We had to be careful in training this week.  We didn’t train on Tuesday as we’ve had players’ playing through injuries and we’ll have a light session tonight and hopefully they’ll be a bit sharper on Saturday.

“Simon Austin came off the other day with a tight hamstring so hopefully he’ll be fit. Michael Everitt has got a bad ankle and Liam Dickson hasn’t played in the last three games as he’s got a groin.

“We’re hoping that we should be near enough full strength squad wise.  Kingy has been on the bench and that gives us a big lift.  I’m hoping everyone should be fit.”

Subject to Saturday’s result, Cugley takes his side to south London next Tuesday to lock horns with third-placed side Dulwich Hamlet.

“Again, they’re a really good, attacking, fast side,” said Cugley.  “We’ve got a difficult month.  We’ve got Maidstone and Dartford in the Kent Senior Cup.  We’ve got some hard games coming up but hopefully we’ll enjoy them and do ourselves a bit of justice in the games.

“We’ve got good lads’ who have a right go for us.”

And with his side in sixth place in the Ryman League Division One South table with 30 points from 16 games, the Folkestone Invicta boss said he is pleased with the league campaign so far.

He said: “We’re doing as well as I expected.  If I’m being honest, I thought we would be in this situation.   It’s been really enjoyable and we’ve played a lot more attacking stuff than we have in the past.

“We’ll try and enjoy it.  Staying in games makes it even more enjoyable.  We’ve been to Lewes and that was a nice ground and a really good game so generally it’s gone very well."

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

Folkestone Invicta  v  Staines Town
The FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 26^th November 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU