We'll go out hell for leather to win our final three games, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

Thursday 11th April 2013

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says 71 points will be enough to make the play-offs.

Tuesday’s results in Ryman League Division One South mean that Invicta almost certainly need to win all three of their remaining fixtures to finish in one of the play-off places – a not impossible task, given that two of the three games are at home.

And only leaders Maidstone United and perennial promotion challengers Dulwich Hamlet have won more home games and earned more home points than Neil Cugley’s side who with 10 wins and seven draws in front of their own fans have taken 37 out of a possible 57 points from their 19 league games at Cheriton Road so far.

While Folkestone were drawing 1-1 away to a Corinthian-Casuals side who are far better – especially defensively – than their lowly position in the table suggests – Hythe’s 4-1 victory at Chipstead makes their place in the end-of-season shootout almost certain and Ramsgate beat hosts Merstham 2-0 to go three points ahead of Invicta in fourth place in the table.

Fifth-placed Faversham also have 65 points (from a game less) with Folkestone currently sixth, but with Leatherhead a point further back and breathing down their necks as they still have six games to play.
Invicta boss Cugley estimate that 71 points will be enough to make the play-offs may prove just short of the mark but he is delighted with the club’s progress over this second half of the season.

“If anyone had said around Christmas that we’d get into a position where we’d still have a chance of the play-offs if we won our last three games I might have laughed at them,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“So we’ll go out hell for leather to win these final three games – realistically we’ve nothing to lose.

“It seemed as if things were going pear-shaped towards the end of last year but the lads we’ve brought in have done superbly and like the rest of our players have all rolled their sleeves up to get us into the position we’re now in.”

Mid-season cutbacks saw the departure of three experienced first choice players and the sale of top-scorer Stuart King to Maidstone to help pay a tax bill.

Frankie Chappell headed a late equaliser from a free-kick in the draw with Corinthian-Casuals on Tuesday to earn his side what might still prove an invaluable point.

Folkestone now face 19^th placed Horsham at home on Saturday. pay a first-time visit to Three Bridges (April 20) and end their season against Kent rivals Herne Bay the following weekend.

A late penalty from Stuart King was little consolation when Folkestone were beaten 2-1 by the Hornets last November and manager Cugley reflected: “We struggled to get going that day, but we were doing okay until we let the lad (Gary) Charman in to score from a corner – that was a bad goal from our point of view.”

And Horsham made it 2-0 from a contentious free-kick before King’s spot-kick (for handball) reduced the arrears.

Josh Burchell (tight hamstring) was rested on Tuesday while Josh Vincent (foot injury) was a second-half substitute, but both could be back in the squad for Saturday along with striker Johan Ter Horst who has been on a short family break in Holland that was planned before he broke into the first team around Christmas time.

“Hopefully Burchy will be okay, and JV did well when he went on, on Tuesday” said boss Cugley.

“We’ve missed Johan in the last couple of games and hopefully he’ll be back and raring to go too.

“Stevo (Phil Stevenson) picked up an ankle injury at Corinthian-Casuals, but he’s been doing well recently and I’m hoping he’ll also be available.”

And Cugley again praised his predominantly young squad, saying: “I can’t ask for any more from them and the fact that we’re still in there with a chance of the play-offs shows just how well they’ve done.

“There were some unhappy vibes around the club around October/November time but these are a great bunch of players who are a real pleasure to work with.”

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Horsham
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 13^th March 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU