The Hythe games are usually good spicy games, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley was sounding incredibly relaxed ahead of the festive clash against local rivals Hythe Town.

As rain continued to hit east Kent following heavy overnight gales, Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk: “There’s nothing we can do about the weather and the forecast is much better for Boxing Day.”

In the big Christmas holiday fixture Invicta make the short trip to take on neighbours Hythe Town at Reachfields Stadium - the two sides having drawn 1-1 in the reverse fixture at Cheriton Road last August.

Cugley said: “They (Hythe) probably wouldn’t mind it being off as they’re not playing well at the moment and have got a couple missing, but I imagine they’ll be keen to get the game on for financial reasons - as we would if we were at home.”

Even an injury to one of his most consistent players, centre back Frankie Chappell, can’t dent the manager’s Christmas spirits.

Chappell pulled up with a thigh strain and had to be withdrawn even before Folkestone had scored in the eventual 8-0 thrashing of Crawley Down Gatwick at Cheriton Road last weekend.

Cugley said: “Frankie’s not missed a league game for years and it was the first time he’s ever come off during a game, but there’s very little we can do about it till the day.

“He’s a sensible lad who looks after himself well but if he doesn’t make it Matt Newman will play in that position as he did on Saturday.”

Hythe are without Shaun Welford who has scored a goal-a-game in the last dozen matches after the big striker picked up his fifth booking of the season two weeks ago while reliable centre-back Pat Kingwell is said to be unavailable through work commitments.

Hythe Town manager Scott Porter has signed Lee Pleau from Maidstone United.

Porter has also called up forwards Jordan Miller and Kieran Byrne who have recently been playing on dual-registration with Southern Counties East League leaders Ashford United.

“I guess if Welford’s out and Frank’s not fit that makes things even” said Invicta boss Neil whose side’s one defeat in the last 10 games contrasts dramatically with Hythe’s recent run of five defeats in the last six - including a 4-1 reverse at Tooting & Mitcham United last Saturday.

“The Hythe games are usually good games with a bit of spice to them,” said Cugley, who lives in Hythe.

“The way we are playing, we are really looking forward to it. It’ll be a big crowd and the players enjoy these games, but they are at home and it’s a tight pitch so it will probably be a physical battle,

“You want to win these games.

“It’s a matter of pride, of course - and now we’re in the top five we want to win it to stabilise our position.

“We’ll have all our squad down there, but apart from seeing how Frankie is, everyone else is available, apart from Michael Yianni, who has his knee op on Friday.”

Folkestone face two more almost certainly tight Kent derbies within the next week as Herne Bay and Ramsgate visit Cheriton Road on Saturday (December 28) and New Year’s Day respectively.

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk

Hythe Town  v  Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Thursday 26^th December 2013
Kick Off 1:00pm
At Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6JS