We've just been nowhere consistent really, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says he is searching for some consistent performances over the August Bank Holiday weekend.



Invicta have collected one win and three defeats from their opening four games of the new season and find themselves in the bottom five in the Ryman League Division One South table at this early stage.

When asked about his side’s start, Cugley said: “Patchy. I would say. We’ve just been nowhere consistent really.

“Against Herne Bay we done well against them and the other three games I think we should have won and didn’t and that’s disappointing.

“We played some good football at times but we’ve not really done it consistently enough over 90 minutes and that’s what’s cost us.”

Cugley’s side face two big east Kent derbies over the holiday weekend starting with a trip to Ramsgate on Saturday.

The Rams are in eighth-place in the table with a 50% success rate from their opening four games.

“Ramsgate are a good side at the moment,” said Cugley.

“He’s got some good experienced players there and their manager Tim Dixon is experienced and a very good manager and that will be a hard game.

“But if we play well and we have played well in patches in games.  We have to keep doing that in a longer period and then we don’t have to fear anybody.”

Folkestone Invicta then welcome rivals Hythe Town to Cheriton Road on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm), but Cugley isn’t happy about the timing of the crunch game that usually takes place over Christmas and Easter.

Cugley said: “I think it’s a shame. I think it’s too early.  That would have been far better later on in the year but there again you’ve got it now and you have to win it.

“I think it’s a wrong idea to put it in so quick, instead of Christmas and Easter.”

One plus point is that the club can attract a much-welcomed four-figure crowd through the turnstiles in the early stages of the season.

“I just think the league hasn’t settled down and people are still on holidays. I think it’s a strange time to have a big derby,” added Cugley, who lives in Hythe.

“At the end of the day we want to go out and win the game obviously, but I just think it’s too early really.

“We want to get three points from every game so nothing will change.”

Cugley revealed his side has changed since going down to a 1-0 defeat to Maidstone United in the play-off semi-finals at the end of last season. 

He said: “We’ve had a lot of players come and go which isn’t our way at Folkestone, it’s been really unusual. The team that played against Maidstone in the play-offs, six players have gone since then and it’s a big change for us.

“Maybe I’m frustrated because it does take time to bed everyone in.”

When asked whether his new-look side will be challenging for the play-offs again, Cugley, whose side grabbed a top-five placing last season, replied: ”I think that’s our aim. We just get on with it. The good thing is we’ve got 46 games this year so there’s no rush is there? You just have to keep plugging away, try and get it right and then you’ll be ok.”

When asked his thoughts about having to play 46 league games this season, Cugley replied: “And the cup games!  I think the players and managers are happy.  Already there’s two games a week right through and you don’t get any respite between it all, but you just get on with it don’t you?”

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

Ramsgate  v  Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 24^th August 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN