Cugley forced into market

Neil Cugley is stepping up his hunt for forward cover after Dane Luchford and Johan Ter Horst both picked up knocks in the FA Cup win over Molesey, writes Mick Cork.

Ryman South Invicta beat Molesey 4-2 away on Tuesday night after drawing 3-3 last weekend in the Preliminary Round tie, but their progress in this season’s FA Cup has cost Cugley.

His gamble of playing Luchford in Tuesday’s replay backfired when the pacey striker suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem midway through the first half and was replaced at the interval. And 18-year-old Ter Horst could also be out for some time with a suspected fractured cheekbone. He was injured following a collision with the Combined Counties club’s keeper which at least led to their third goal in the draw at The Fullicks Stadium.

On his hunt for reinforcements, Cugley said: "I’ve spoken to three different forwards, but we’ve already had a knockback from one of them because of the travelling distance involved, and there could be problems with another on financial grounds. I’ll still hopeful of bringing someone in, though."

But, as Folkestone face a near unprecedented run of five successive home games, Cugley is more hopeful of adding to his midfield options within the next few days.

He said: "We’ve put in a seven day [notice of approach] for a midfielder who Ozzo [assistant manager Simon Austin] has recommended. We may have that tied up by Saturday, or he could be in the squad for the first time when we play Charlton [In the Kent Senior Cup] here on Monday."

Cugley’s quest for a new midfielder follows the departure of utility player Shane Hamshare who’s flown to America to work with his father Chris again, the former Folkestone Town player. Despite his worries over replacements, Cugley was a happy man after his side came from two goals down to record a memorable 4-2 victory after extra-time at Molesey.

He declared: "They were a decent side as we saw over the two games. I actually felt they played better in the replay – I liked their centre-forward who did not play in the first game and who scored their first goal on Tuesday. But once we changed things around, putting three men up and really getting at them I always felt we would win.

"I was delighted with the character these players showed to turn the game around – that’s something we’d not seen from them before this season. They really rolled their sleeves up and got us the result we all wanted. Now we’ve got to keep that spirit going and start to climb the table."

Cugley also singled out newboy Chris ‘Billy’ Elliott and hat-trick hero Stuart King for special praise after Tuesday’s win that netted £1925 in prize money. Youngster Elliott, signed from Canterbury City on Simon Austin’s recommendation, was a pre-season hit with supporters but had not started a game in the season proper after picking up a nasty foot injury while on holiday.

Invicta's manager added: “Billy did well. He hadn’t played since pre-season but did as well as anyone for us on Tuesday. And he’ll only get better with the more games he gets. He’s quick, he’s got a lovely left-foot, a good long throw-in and likes a tackle.

"Kingy wasn’t quite his normal self when he came back to us from Maidstone, but he’s really getting going again and that those goals should give his confidence a massive lift. He’s had some awful luck in recent games, hitting the bar and the post I don’t know how many times - maybe now his luck has changed, let’s all hope so!

"He’s working hard and we all know what he can do when he’s at his best. Some people will always say he should pass more, but there’s a very fine line between knowing when to pass and being a wee bit greedy as all really top-class goal-scorers need to be at times."

Looking ahead to the weekend, Cugley said he knew his side faced tough opponents in the league when they host promoted Sussex side Peacehaven & Telscombe.

"They’ve brought in some experienced players who we know from other clubs and have made a decent start in our league," warned Cugley. "It won’t be easy, but if we play with the spirit we showed on Tuesday I’m sure we can give a good account of ourselves. I still feel that we could have won every game apart from that one at Herne Bay. Even then we nearly got a draw out of that."