We haven't got anywhere near our high standards, admits Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says he is using tonight’s home friendly against Kent Leaguers Canterbury City to try to recapture the form that his side showed during December.



Invicta have suffered back-to-back defeats at Cheriton Road, having lost to Merstham and their east Kent rivals Ramsgate, conceding seven goals in the process.

Cugley said: “We have to start playing a lot better like we did in December.  We set really high standards and we haven’t got anywhere near them since.

“We have to try to sort that out, otherwise we’ll drift along for the season and we won’t be good enough to get into the play-offs.

“And to concede three goals (against Ramsgate), that’s seven goals that we’ve conceded in the last two home games.  That’s not like us really, that’s disappointing.”

Folkestone Invicta remain in sixth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 54 points from 29 games.

Results went well last weekend as fifth-placed side Worthing, who also have 54 points, were defeated by second-from-bottom side Whitstable Town.

Cugley takes his side to table-topping Bognor Regis Town on Saturday, the west Sussex outfit are three points clear of Dulwich Hamlet.

“Bognor Regis are the best side in the league, a great footballing side,” said Cugley.

“It should be a lovely pitch and if we play like we can, we’ll give them a good game, but if we don’t play well, we will lose the game obviously.

“But if we play, it will be a good game because they try to get it down and pass it, so do we.   We have to defend better or we’ll concede goals.”

When asked how he is going to treat tonight’s friendly match against neighbours Canterbury City, Cugley added, “We’ll take it seriously, we need too!  We need to get the ball moving again and that’s how we play.  We can’t play any other way. We haven’t got those sort of players.  We’re not a big, strong side.  We have to play football.”

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

Bognor Regis Town  v  Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 3^rd March 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 2TY