We're not feeling any pressure, says Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley wants an extended run in the FA Carlsberg Trophy this season - following their disappointing FA Cup exit last weekend, writes Stephen McCartney.

Invicta leapfrogged over their Kent rivals, Cray Wanderers, into second place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with a 2-0 home win over Metropolitan Police a couple of nights ago.

Cugley was pleased that his side bounced back from their disappointment in the FA Cup when Ryman Premier League side Horsham came away from Cheriton Road with a 2-1 win in the second qualifying round.

Attention now turns to Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary round tie against Kent rivals Chatham Town.

The Medway side are finding life tough in their new surroundings and are fifth from bottom in the Ryman League Division One North table, with a record of two wins and a draw from ten games.

With £2,000 in prize money available to the winners, Cugley wants a good run in the FA Carlsberg Trophy this season, and his side are the favourites to earn a trip to Ryman Premier League side Harrow Borough in the next round in two weeks time.

“We’ll make a couple of phone calls, but we know a couple of their players,” Cugley told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We won’t change the way we play anyway, but it’s always nice to know how other teams set up against you.

“Chatham have got some quite good players that we know about so it’s important after losing last Saturday (in the FA Cup to Horsham) to stay in the FA Trophy for as long as we can.”

Cugley praised player-coach Scott Lindsey for his input since returning to Cheriton Road - for yet another time - in the close season.

Experienced midfielder Lindsey has played in Folkestone’s last five games, which has yielded three wins and a draw, in all competitions.

But when asked if this season’s squad is better than the one that suffered relegation from the Ryman Premier League on the last day of last term, Cugley replied: “Difficult to say really. We’ve had some good players although we’ve struggled at times.

“We’re trying to play better football, but I wouldn’t say it’s an easier league but you’ve got a bit more time in this standard so we can play a bit more football.

“We’re enjoying it, we’ve got a nice (bunch) of players, who are great to work with, a great attitude.

“We’re trying to improve, we’ve got some quite young players in the squad as well at the moment. We’re trying to get the mixture right.

“To be fair to Scott Lindsey, he’s having to play a bit more than he wanted to, but coaching wise he’s been excellent and we’ve got a nice atmosphere here.”

When asked if his side can claim the Ryman League Division One South title this season, Cugley replied: “If we do, we do. If we don’t, we want to be in the play-off’s.

“We’ve never tried to put ourselves under pressure. We want to make sure we have an enjoyable season and that’s what we’re doing.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

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

Visit Chatham Town’s website:  www.chathamtownfc.net

Folkestone Invicta v Chatham Town
FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 4^th October 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU