Our problems are being resolved, reveals upbeat Cugley

Wednesday 19th August 2009

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says morale is high going into tonight's trip to Eastbourne Town, writes Stephen McCartney.

Invicta, who are NOT in administration, got their Ryman League Division One South campaign off with a goal-less draw against Dulwich Hamlet at Cheriton Road at the weekend.

“It was alright,” Cugley told www.kentishfootball.co.uk this lunchtime. “It was quite a good game to be fair for a nil-nil and to be fair they came down and tried to get the ball down and pass it about.

“To be fair, we did the same, so it was quite entertaining. Both sides will be disappointed to miss so many chances really.

“It weren’t too bad, obviously (it was) nice to keep a clean sheet. It would be nice to get a couple of goals for the fans, but I’m not too disappointed.

“I felt Saturday really, looking back as a manager, you might have chased the game to try and get a win, but I felt with everything going on off the pitch, it was important to get some points on the board at the start of the season.”

The long-serving Cugley updated the injury situation concerning Liam Dickson and James Dryden, who are both ruled out through knee injuries.

“We have got a smallish squad and Liam Dickson and Jimmy Dryden are both still out so we’ll go with what we had on Saturday,” he revealed.

“I don’t think it will change much from that, with three or four teenagers on the bench, which is what you have to do sometimes at our level. A lot of clubs are doing it now.

“Jimmy Dryden will do a bit of light training at the game tonight, so maybe Saturday will be too soon, so Whitstable next Tuesday for him.

“Liam Dickson, who has (also) done his knee, will hopefully play for the reserves Saturday, so he will get a game as he’s been out for four weeks now.”

Cugley is in an upbeat mood, ahead of tonight’s trip along the coast to Eastbourne.

“There has been a fair bit of hassle off the pitch that is slowly getting resolved and that gets into the dressing room,” he said.

“Once you get the better news it would be nice to get some points all round, to keep things ticking along nicely.

“With more positive news coming out of the club, hopefully we can kick on from that.”

Cugley takes his side to Fleet Town on Saturday, and he is expecting a tough game against Andy Sinton’s men.

“It’s a difficult one,” he said. “We went down there at the end of last year on a good run and lost 2-0, I think it was.

“They’re a good side. It will be difficult but we’ve got a really good team spirit here at the moment. Everyone’s working their socks off and whoever beats us would have deserved to beat us.”

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

Eastbourne Town v Folkestone Invicta

Ryman League Division One South

Wednesday 19th August 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At The Saffrons, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1EA