Whitehawk is a tough tie at this stage of the FA Cup, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

Can the tremendous team spirit that has seen Folkestone Invicta go eight games with only one defeat this season – and up to third in the league - take them through what has always looked a very tough FA Cup tie against free-spending Ryman League Division One South rivals Whitehawk at Cheriton Road tomorrow?

 

Boss Neil Cugley says he cannot speak highly enough about his teams efforts and enthusiasm that have helped the club make this excellent start despite their worst injury crisis for several seasons.

“It’s a tougher tie than we would have wanted at this stage,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

Folkestone Invicta also had to overcome Ryman League Division One South rivals Whyteleafe in the Preliminary Round at the second attempt.

And Cugley believes the squad will have come through Wednesday’s memorable 3-1 win victory over previously unbeaten Worthing strong enough to give a good account of themselves in the Cup tie.

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem” said Cugley.

“We’re a young, fit side – the only one over 30 is Darren Smith and he’s one of the fitter lads anyway.

“We know this is a tough one – arguably as tough as we could have got at this stage - but the spirit in the squad is excellent and we’ll certainly be doing everything we can to get through to the next round.”

After being there or thereabouts in the Sussex County League for many seasons, The Hawks finally won the championship and with it promotion to the Ryman League two years ago, finishing third in the Ryman League Division One South in their debut season.

Their wealth of talent mixed with considerable experience saw them made 5/4 on favourites for the title with the bookies back in July.

After a slightly surprising 2-1 defeat at Godalming Town last Tuesday they are now three points and two places below Invicta – fifth in the table.

Keeper Ross Standen, who is also club coach, has faced Folkestone with several previous teams, including AFC Wimbledon – and so has veteran centre back Marc Pullan, most notably for Crawley Town.

Up front, the player best known in this part of the country is enigmatic ex-Brighton & Hove Albion and Dover Athletic winger Jerahl Hughes.

Folkestone will have defender Liam Dickson back in the squad after work commitments again saw him missing in midweek.

His return could offset the fact that dual registration signing James Rogers is Cup tied with Blue Square Bet South Dartford.

Player-coach Roland Edge also missed Wednesday’s game with a chest infection but may be fit enough to come back into the reckoning on the left side of the team.

Striker Paul Jones will again undergo a fitness test, though the manager believes he may still need a week or two.

If a replay is needed, it will be in Brighton on Tuesday meaning postponement of Invicta’s league game at Sittingbourne.

Reflecting on the 3-1 win over previously second-placed and unbeaten Worthing, manager Cugley said: “That was a good old fashioned game with plenty going on – and those sort of games always seem better under lights for some reason.”

Returning to the Cup tie, he added: “Whitehawk are clearly a decent side with plenty of money and plenty of ambition.

“But we’ll give it a go, as always – we can’t do any more than that!”

The prize money for tomorrow’s winners is £3,000.

“That would be nice,” said Cugley, “but it’s not the be-all and end-all of our season, which it has been at times in the past.

“We haven’t got that kind of pressure, and we all enjoy the FA Cup so we’d love to get through.”

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk  

Folkestone Invicta  v  Whitehawk
FA Cup with Budweiser First Qualifying Round
Saturday 17^th September 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU