There's no pressure on me or my players to go up, says Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says their miserable campaign in the Ryman Premier League last season will stand his side in good stead if they are to clinch promotion back at the first attempt.



The club welcome Merstham to Cheriton Road on Saturday, with an unbeaten home record, sitting in fourth place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 54 points from 27 games.

They are only four points adrift of league leaders Bognor Regis Town and Cugley is looking to bounce back after finishing at the foot of the Ryman Premier League table last term.

“We’ve got two home games, we’ve got to try to win those two games and really start putting the pressure on those teams and make it difficult to catch us.  The fact that we’ve got to play them as well makes it interesting,” said Cugley.

“We’ve got to go to Worthing, Bognor, we have to go to Maidstone and we’ve got Dulwich here so it’s in our hands.  That’s what I keep saying to the players. If we win every single game then we haven’t got a problem.”

Cugley’s side were held to a frustrating goal-less draw away to Eastbourne Town last weekend.

He said: “A bit disappointing because we had ten corners, they had none.  They didn’t have any shots on target at all and we’ve come away drawing 0-0, so it’s a bit disappointing,  We should have won! Their goalkeeper, to be fair, was outstanding on the day.

“Eastbourne are fairly safe but I think they were determined to get a point against us and they didn’t attack as much but it was up to us to break them down and we didn’t.  I can’t moan at the forwards either as they were hitting the target – their keeper had one of those days you don’t want!”

When asked whether his side can go on and clinch the title and make a better impression in the league above if they get there, Cugley said: “Had we won those three games we drew we should be top of the league.  We’ve played some good football, we’re a good, footballing side and try to entertain and play the right way.

“There’s no pressure on me or the players to get up or anything like that.

“Last season it was just difficult because we didn’t have a strong enough squad, not enough depth and we had our (financial) problems as well. We had to go four weeks around Christmas (2010) without any money and that didn’t help.

“But I think the whole club, I know it is, is in a good position now.  If we did go up, we’d be better prepared for it at least and some of the younger players would have learnt from their experience of being in the Premier.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Cugley said: “To be fair to Merstham, they’re quite an attacking side and it makes for a good game. In the past they’ve come to us (attacking wise) and that makes for better football, doesn’t it?

“The only player out is Liam Friend, who got sent off two weeks ago, so he misses one game so Roland Edge should be fit so he’ll come in so that won’t be a problem.”

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

Folkestone Invicta  v  Merstham
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 28^th January 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU