The break will do us good, says Cugley

Following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat away at Chelmsford City – a side who Neil Cugley expects to win the Ryman Premier League – Folkestone Invicta have to wait until Saturday December 1^st to take on Hendon at the Buzzlines Stadium in their next match.

However, the break has been welcomed by the Folkestone Invicta manager who is intending to make the best possible use of the time to work with his squad on the training ground and allow those players who have picked up injuries recently to recover fully ready for the visit of Hendon.

“Well it was obviously a much better performance from us,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“But all credit to Chelmsford who I thought were absolutely outstanding, certainly one of the best sides I have seen for a long time especially at home. Obviously they watered the pitch and had it cut short and they played some excellent stuff”.

The Invicta boss had demanded an improved performance from his players after publicly venting his disappointment at recent results.

The Saturday before, Folkestone had lost 2-0 away to Maidstone United and during the week had gone out of the Kent Senior Cup away at Chatham Town.

On the Chelmsford result, Cugley said: “2-0 was fair I think and they were better than us and you can’t deny that. We had a go and I was pleased with the three young centre backs who are only teenagers and they held up well considering they were under a lot of pressure.

“At the end of the day Charlie (Mitten, their goalkeeper) didn’t have much to do so it shows we defended quite well. It was obviously an improvement on recent weeks but I think that’s again because we’re getting players back now.”

Micheal Everitt, Roland Edge, James Corbett and Ellis Remy all returned to the starting line up.

Everitt had missed the Chatham match through suspension whilst travelling duo Edge and Corbett were left out of the squad through injury. Remy came on at half time and grabbed two goals, ultimately securing his place in the side for the trip to Essex.

“Obviously these lads are good players and as you get the other two back you start to get back to a stronger side and a side that I’m sure could hold their own in this league,” explained Cugley.

“As I’ve said before once you get a few out you’re not very strong and we haven’t got much depth and with a lot of games recently that has shows up.”

The Seasiders hope to have industrious striker Leigh Bremner and defensive rock Samuel Kola Okikiolu fully fit by the Hendon match.

Invicta recalled local lads Martin Chandler and Roy Guiver – currently on loan at Kent League outfit Herne Bay – for the Chatham match.

Both players have made a big impression at Herne Bay; Guiver has been made captain and Chandler has turned in numerous impressive performances in the midfield.

“The situation is ongoing at the moment. I didn’t take Chands on Saturday as everyone I think knows he is someone who needs regular games so we let him have a game at Herne Bay.

“Roy is a lad who to be fair I wouldn’t mind keeping because of his versatility playing centre half and centre forward which is like having two men on the bench. Hopefully he’ll stay but obviously both of these lads are at the age where they want to play regular football”.

Speaking about the fitness of Martin Chandler, Cugley said: “I’ve watched him a couple of times actually and obviously he has got fitter but it is still a big jump from Kent League to our standard and I think he has still got a bit to do.

“If he really wants to get back he has got to work hard on his own and if he wants to play at this standard he has got to go out on his own running and when he’s not training with Herne Bay he’s got to train with us and he’ll get fitter and fitter the more he does.”

A popular figure at Cheriton Road, Chandler scored a 30 yard screamer on Saturday as Herne Bay thrashed Faversham Town 4-1.

On the subject of midfield players, Folkestone released Ryan Briggs last week who has since followed in the footsteps of Paul Jones in signing for Ashford Town until the end of the season.

Reports suggest Briggs turned in an impressive debut in a 1-1 draw against Burgess Hill Town in Ryman Division One which was the first point gained by new manager Steve Lovell.

“Briggsy wasn’t playing regularly and he wanted regular football which is obviously understandable,” said Cugley.

“We felt it was right all round so we let him go and we’re not in the situation where we can have fairly well paid players on the bench. He’s a good lad with a decent attitude and I hope he does well for himself.”

Trialist Richard Shittu played for the reserves last Saturday whilst the first team took on Chelmsford and the east London based striker is due to play for the reserves again this Saturday when they play at the Buzzlines Stadium.

Cugley is due to cast his eye over the striker who has recently played in Poland and after the match he is likely to decide whether or not he wishes to keep Shittu at Cheriton Road.

Folkestone now have several training sessions before the match with Hendon a week on Saturday and the Invicta management fully intend to take advantage of their timing in order to work on various aspects of the team’s play.

Cugley said: “We’ll be working on a number of things, including our pattern of play and getting our free kicks and corners sorted out.

“It does help when you’ve got a regular team out and by the time we get to Hendon we want to show a big improvement in our home form.

“We can’t guarantee wins but we must guarantee we’re better prepared and hopefully we can get back to winning ways.

“We’ve had a lot of games and as I’ve said we haven’t got a very big squad. We’ve played 25 odd games and it is a lot and we’ve been lucky with injuries but the last few weeks we’ve picked up a few and it will be nice for the players to go away and recuperate and look forward to the next game”.

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk