We must win our home games, says Cugley - EXCLUSIVE

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley has challenged his side to maintain their good home form of late to maintain their Ryman Premier League status, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Cheriton Road club are precariously placed just one place above the drop zone, but they’re playing two sides over the Easter period that still have relegation fears.

Harlow Town are the visitors to Cheriton Road tomorrow, before Cugley takes his side to Hastings United on Easter Monday.

The Hawks, who lost 2-1 at home to Maidstone United last weekend, are sitting in fourteenth place on 44 points - just three points clear of their Kent hosts.

And Cugley, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of their two six-pointers, is confident his side can bag all three points to join the Essex boys on 44 points.

“Yes, we’re looking forward to it,” he said. “We seem to be playing allright at the moment.

“Our home form has improved massively over the last few weeks, which is good, but obviously we’ve picked up some points on our away travels so we’re looking ok at the moment.”

However, there cannot be a division in English football that’s as unpredictable as the Ryman Premier League.

Just fourteen points separate Hendon in fourth and fourth-bottom outfit Hastings United and Cugley tried to put his finger on it.

“It was fairly crazy last year, it’s always a bit tight,” said Cugley. “It’s just a strong league and when you’ve got a strong league, people will beat people.

“We need to get maybe three more wins but you always like to win your home games.”

With eight league games left to play - five of them at home - Cugley knows his side cannot rest for one moment.

“It’s in our own hands isn’t it?” said Cugley. “In eight games we’ve got to play, every single game at the moment we’re playing against teams trying to get into the play-off’s or try to get clear of the relegation zone, so they’re all big games and shows how tight the league is.”

The Folkestone faithful would be satisfied with at least four points over Easter and Cugley added: “Looking at the league table on Tuesday, we’ll have more of an idea (of our position) won’t we?

Luke Stonebridge keeps his place in goal as Charlie Mitten has missed the last two games with a broken wrist.

Migraine sufferer James Corbett might be included if he’s well enough and James Everitt will come in for Ben Sly if he doesn’t shake off his ankle injury.

Cugley, however, wants to make it a Good Friday for 400-plus expected crowd.

“We beat Harlow away from home, they’ve got some very well known players, but every game’s hard,” he said.

“Forty-six points will normally keep you up, but we’re looking at the 50s now.

“I think it’s a really tough, good league, with good, well-oranised players in it. You can go anywhere and anybody can beat anybody because it’s so close.

“Hopefully we’ll get 400 odd to get behind the team. Hopefully we can play well and get a win for them.”

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

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be providing LIVE SCORE updates from Cheriton Road on Good Friday.

INVICTA’S GAMES OVER EASTER:

Good Friday, 21 March 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
Folkestone Invicta v Harlow Town
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU

Easter Monday, 24 March 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
Hastings United v Folkestone Invicta
At The Pilot Field, Elphinstone Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2AX