Cugley targets first away win

Folkestone Invicta go in search of their first away win of the Ryman South season on Saturday when they make the trip to Thanet to take on old rivals Ramsgate at Southwood, writes Mick Cork.

The clash is one of four games already scheduled for Invicta against the Rams this season. Three of them are away from home after the sides were drawn against each other in both the FA Trophy and Isthmian League Cup, the ties being played 11 days apart in October.

Invicta boss Neil Cugley, pictured, is determined to take the positives from Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Whyteleafe and work hard to sort out the things that didn’t go as planned. Ahead of this weekend's action, he also refused to blame the 3G surface at Church Road.

He said: "We had plenty of possession as we had done in the previous two games and lots of balls around the box without getting the chances we should have. They had problems with their pitch in the past and I can’t blame them for what they’ve done there.

"We played the ball around superbly at times but failed to take full advantage of that. Paul Booth has played on those pitches more than most of the lads and he said he found it a bit slow – certainly slower than he and Drakes [Ian Draycott] were used at Maidstone. I don’t like artificial pitches and probably never will but that one wasn’t quite natural breaking forward at times."

Dane Luchford had given Folkestone the lead soon after the break but a disputed free-kick from burly skipper Jason Thompson found the bottom corner of Tim Roberts’ net for Whyteleafe's equaliser some 15 minutes from time.

Cugley’s was clearly upset at conceding the free-kick and also with the way his defence dealt with it. He added: "Of course I was disappointed but this is something we’ll talk about and make sure we’ve sorted it out before the game on Saturday. When I see things I feel are wrong it’s obviously better we try to sort it out at this stage of the season rather than later on."

The manager also took the time to insist that he hasn't lost any confidence in Roberts, the keeper whose arrival turned Invicta’s season around last time. "Tim’s a superb goalie, one of the very best I’ve ever had and he’s shown us that again already this season," added Cugley.

Image courtesy www.yourshepway.co.uk