We're not under pressure to win the league, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says the start of the new season has been “a bit up and down”, as a result of his side playing more open football, writes Stephen McCartney.


Invicta sit in ninth place in the Ryman League Division One South table, after picking up six points from their opening three games and they have scored five and conceded five goals.

They came away from struggling Whyteleafe with a 2-1 win yesterday, as they came back from going a goal down, courtesy of two goals from new signing Stuart King, who has now scored four of Folkestone’s five goals.

When asked about his side’s start, Cugley said: “Not too bad, a bit up and down really.  We’ve got quite a few new players and different systems and it’s just taken a bit longer than I thought - not longer than I  thought, it’s just taken time to settle down really that’s all.”
Folkestone lacked quality during last season when they finished at the foot of the Ryman Premier League table – but Cugley has pulled out all of the stops to entertain the Cheriton Road faithful this term.

He said: “To be fair, we’re trying to play a bit more open football, so I have to accept we’ll let a few goals in.

“We done brilliant a couple of years’ ago, but we were a bit dour, so we are trying to play a bit more open football.  There’s no pressure on our lads, we’re not under pressure to win the league or anything like that, so we should be able to go and enjoy ourselves.”
Kent rivals Whitstable Town arrive at Cheriton Road tomorrow sitting in eighth place, having defeated Walton Casuals (3-2) and Maidstone United (2-0), but they crashed back down to earth with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Merstham yesterday, a performance that disappointed manager Peter Nott.

“To be fair the manager’s done a good job there,” said Cugley.  “There’s not a lot to play with I don’t think but he’s got some good players there and they’ve started quite well, so all credit to them.

“It will be open because we play that way now.  We’re a bit more open than we were.  I think it will be open, it should be a nice game, the pitch will be nice because we’ve had the rain on it.

“Stuart King is looking forward to it as he used to play for them and he’ll be looking to carry on with his goal tally.

“He’s been brilliant!  If he continues the way he has and his attitude he can play at a much higher standard.”

When asked about his side’s position in the table, the Folkestone boss said: “To be fair, you don’t look at league tables until after ten or twelve games because there’s no need.  Everybody’s settling down.  I don’t go into depth about things like that.”

Meanwhile, Hythe Town have confirmed that they have signed James Dryden from Folkestone Invicta.

Dryden becomes the fifth striker in Scott Porter's squad, but it is expected that both his level of experience and ability to play in midfield will give the Hythe manager even more options in Hythe Town's first ever season in the Ryman League.

Dryden, 31, scored 138 goals during his time with Folkestone Invicta, and also had a spell for Dover Athletic for whom he was top goalscorer during the 2008/9 season, scoring the goal that clinched Dover the Ryman League Division One South Championship.

A statement, published on Hythe Town’s website www.hythetownfc.co.uk said: “The ex-Invicta man's ability to play in various attacking roles also helps balance out the squad, after it was agreed that youngsters Sam Conlon and Dan Scorer will start the season with Kent Invicta League side Ashford United.”

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

Folkestone Invicta  v  Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Bank Holiday Monday, 29^th August 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU