Watson blunder could define our season, admits Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA make the trip to Margate tomorrow and host AFC Hornchurch on Monday night in two of their final three matches of their season - two matches which will ultimately decide whether the Seasiders maintain their Ryman Premier League status, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant.

Defeat in this weekend’s east Kent derby would – barring a miracle – condemn Invicta to relegation and mean Folkestone would miss out on numerous Kent derbies next season.

Dartford (Ryman One North) and Dover Athletic (Ryman One South) have recently secured promotion into the Ryman Premier League, having secured their respective titles.

Margate parted company with their player-manager Robin Trott this week with Steve McKimm filling in as caretaker-manager for their remaining two matches of the season.

Does Invicta manager Neil Cugley believe the managerial changes at Hartsdown Park will have any baring on Saturday?

“I don’t think it will and if anything I think they’ll be more up to impress whoever is looking to take over and they’ll certainly be looking to get two wins out of their last two,” Cugley replied, when speaking to www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“We have to be confident going into that game and I will reiterate to the players how well they played against Staines and although Margate are a very good footballing side if we play like we did against Staines we have every chance of winning it.”

Left wing back Roland Edge and striker Leigh Bremner both picked up knocks on Wednesday night against Staines Town but Cugley remains hopeful both will be fit for the two crucial matches over the weekend.

Samuel Kola Okikiolu will face a late fitness test on a knock sustained against East Thurrock that kept him out of the midweek action although if he doesn’t pass the test the manager has expressed full confidence in centre backs Frankie Chappell and Liam Friend.

Cugley said that the pair have been “excellent” and he is reluctant to break up his central defensive pairing.

Speaking about Invicta’s survival chances, Cugley said: “Wednesday’s performance and the commitment we showed was excellent and it shows that when we are playing well we are a very good side.

“We have some young players and the future is good if we can keep them and in these final matches we have got to get the consistency to play well for the ninety plus minutes.

“We have to go into these games concentrating on getting goals and if we do that it’ll be easier obviously but it’s not the scenario I would’ve wanted at this time of the year.

“The League table doesn’t lie though and we haven’t got enough goals this year and that is the sole reason why we are struggling at this time.

“We still have to win two games and considering our goal difference we probably need another point from the other game.

“To win two out of three sounds a much harder task than to win one of three and that is the biggest disappointment of not winning either of the last two matches.

“We know we have our backs against the wall and it’s going to take a huge effort to stay up but we will be fighting to the end”.

Cugley, meanwhile, was pleased with his side’s performance against Staines Town on Wednesday night - up until the 88th minute.

The Seasiders turned in quite outstanding first half performance and could have gone in at the interval several goals ahead. Invicta were playing excellent attacking football and Staines had no meaningful goalscoring opportunities at all in the half.

Leigh Bremner finished emphatically after a great flick on from strike partner Lloyd Blackman to score his ninth goal of the season as Invicta fans enjoyed a first half of attacking flair.

“It was a well worked goal and Bremns took it ever so well,” praised Cugley. “The movement and the passing which led to the goal was excellent and it just typified the performances of our players because I couldn’t have asked more from them.

“The commitment, passing and work ethic was excellent. I thought the two Everitt’s were outstanding in midfield, Jimmy Corbett had his best game in a long, long time, the forward’s worked hard, Glydey gave us a lot of width and got the ball into the box and the back two were superb and I just thought for an hour we were a very good side.

“Considering the amount of young lads we have I thought we did ever so well and not to go up several up at half time was a huge shame. Jimmy Corbett had a big chance, Ratty hit the post and I thought it was some of the best football we have played in a long, long time.

“We had a chat before the game about how important it was, what I wanted and we changed the side a little bit and I thought we were excellent”.

However, the turning point of the match came in the 88^th minute when defender Kevin Watson handled the ball inside the area and gift Staines a somewhat undeserved equaliser.

“I can’t understand what Kevin was doing there; it was a bad choice to make, he didn’t need to hand ball it and it can only have been reactionary and it has killed us.

“It could almost define our season because we were so comfortable up to that point and I really couldn’t see Staines scoring. They tried everything and put four up front and we defended so well and Luke didn’t have a lot to do second half.

“There was a wind and we had that with us first half and so we knew Staines would come at us more second half.

“They’re a good side and they changed how they played second half to put us under a bit more pressure. I was disappointed that we hadn’t scored more and that chance to Corbo where the keeper has made a double save really sticks out and maybe if that had gone in I don’t think we would’ve lost.”

With Folkestone chasing a much needed match winning goal and putting numbers forward for a corner, Staines were to hit the hosts on the break and score two goals in quick succession which flattered the visitors with a 3-1 final scoreline.

“I can’t be annoyed with the players as their effort was second to none. I was just livid with the way we gave such a soft penalty away and that let them back in the game and we couldn’t hold on. I honestly thought we had won and that win would’ve been massive for us.”

Margate, meanwhile, play their first game under the guidance of caretaker manager Steve McKimm.

McKimm welcomes back Jay Saunders following suspension and should have a fully fit squad to choose from.

However, as player-manager Robin Trott parting company with the club in midweek, McKimm must decide on his central defensive pairing in the first of his two games in charge.

Listen to Matt Gerrard on BBC Radio Kent for regular updates from Hartsdown Park or live commentary via Margate’s website at www.margate-fc.com.

Articles courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk  & www.margate-fc.com

www.kentishfootball.co.uk expect to be covering next Monday's home game against play-off chasing side AFC Hornchurch - their penultimate game of the campaign.

Margate v Folkestone Invicta
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 19^th April 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ