Neilson hope tests will enable him to play longer

Monday 20th March 2006

A goal in each half from experienced midfielder Mark Saunders gave Folkestone Invicta a 2-1 victory on a cold and blustery Saturday afternoon in the Ryman Premier League against Harrow Borough at the Buzzlines Stadium, writes Andy Bown and Tom Marchant – www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Only one change was made form the side that battled well to earn a creditable 0-0 draw against the league leaders Braintree Town seven days earlier.

James Everitt was recalled to the starting line up at right wing back in place of Mark Corneille whose loan period with Folkestone has finished, so he returns to Gillingham. Local midfielder Micheal Everitt, attacking utility player James Fraser, left full back Paul Lamb, forward Joe Neilson and goalkeeper Kieran Mann were all on the substitute’s bench.

Invicta manager Neil Cugley felt that the first goal scored by Saunders on the stroke of half time was very important in the context of the game. “The goal before half time gave us a lot to work with and it was vitally important as we came off at half time,” he said. “I was very angry with how we played in the first half but the goal brought it to ‘just angry’.

”To be fair the players did what I asked of them in the second half and their passion and commitment showed as we looked more decisive going forward and more solid in midfield”.

Long-serving Cugley re-jigged his side early in the second half and brought young forward Joe Neilson on for man of the match James Everitt and the team reverted to a 4-3-3 formation.

“I felt James did well but I wanted to change things because Harrow were there for the taking and we just needed a little bit more up front. It’s nice to have a strong bench which allows you to make these changes which hasn’t been the case in the past,” he said.

The Folkestone boss felt that Neilson did well when we came on and believes he has got the potential to be a regular in the first team. “He gave us something different up front and he reminds me a lot of what Johnny Ayling used to do for us; running at defenders and taking them on.

"Joe gets a lot of cramp in his foot though which means he can’t play for more than half an hour. But he’s going to have some tests in the summer to try and get it resolved for next season”.

It was Saunders though who got Invicta’s second and his third for the Cheriton Road club, sealing victory with only a couple of minutes from time to ensure his side took all three points.

His manager stated: “I’m pleased that someone scored for us because it does get worrying when you’re not scoring goals. They were good goals from Mark, especially from midfield and he does what a lot of players in our team don’t do – gambles in the box and makes intelligent runs”.

From that point of view Cugley felt the second goal was quality and showed the characteristic of a quality player. He revealed: “Mark does a lot behind the scenes that people don’t realise and he’s a superb asset for this football club. He takes training and passes a lot of his experience onto the players and this is bringing our side on a lot”.

Before Saturday’s two goals Invicta had only managed to put away one in five games and Cugley felt that it was beginning to become a physiological problem. He expressed: “Sometimes when you’re not scoring goals the confidence goes and it gets tough, so today was pleasing that we started scoring goals again and this should give a little more confidence to the team as a whole.

”We showed a lot more belief when we went one down to come back and this is something we’re trying to take forward and rectify for next season – we’ve got to believe in what we’re doing even if we go one down and not to let our heads drop”.

Cugley added: “As I’ve said it’s a difficult league to score goals in and people probably don’t realise how strong a league it actually is. But despite us not scoring the last few weeks, we have created a lot of chances which just haven’t been put away. But as a manager I’d rather be missing chances than not creating any at all!”

Cugley is keen to ensure that Folkestone better last season’s points total of 52 in order highlight the side’s progress in a strong league and has targeted five wins from the remaining games of the season, which is now obviously down to four after Saturday’s result.

With regard to the injury situation, striker Paul Jones (groin) is having his operation this week. The Folkestone boss said: “We wish him all the best. He’s been a big miss for us and without him people realise what an important player he is and just what he does for us”.

The former Ashford Town striker links up the Invicta midfield and attack well and Cugley feels this may have been something missing from the side over the past few weeks. Micheal Everitt is now fully fit after suffering from a recent ankle problem but Cugley pointed out: “He just needs to get match fit now and we will be giving him a chance between now and the end of the season. But it’s a bit late as there are only seven games left, so we will obviously be looking towards next season and getting him properly ready for that”.

Fans shouldn’t forget that the reserves play their second leg in the semi final of the Kent Reserve League Cup on Tuesday night (7:45pm) against their Whitstable Town counterparts.

The club urges as many people as possible to get down to Cheriton Road to support the side, as Mick Dix and his squad would be delighted to see a good crowd to cheer them on in their efforts to reach the final of the competition.