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Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley eager to avenge defeat at Carshalton Athletic as the sides meet at Cheriton Road this weekend

Boss Neil Cugley admits Folkestone are keen to avenge their defeat at Carshalton earlier in the season when the two sides meet this Saturday.

Promotion-chasing Invicta are enjoying a productive campaign - already having had good runs in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy before being knocked out by National League opposition.

Folkestone manager Neil Cugley. Picture: Randolph File
Folkestone manager Neil Cugley. Picture: Randolph File

Folkestone, who are fifth in Isthmian Premier and have at least one game in hand on everyone above them, suffered their first defeat of the campaign in spectacular style, though, as they were beaten 5-0 at Carshalton in November on a Monday night to forget.

Cugley said: “We have had some difficult games against them over the years. They have a good manager (Peter Adeniyi) and a decent squad.

“They beat us up there, so we do owe them one a little bit.

"We don’t want anyone doing the double over us, really.”

Folkestone won in emphatic style on Saturday, beating Potters Bar 7-0, who have since appointed Deal-born Sammy Moore as their new manager.

The result came after Invicta had lost 3-1 away to frontrunners Worthing last Tuesday, despite Alfie Paxman’s effort.

Cugley said: “Over the last few years, we have been very good at bouncing back from defeats - and I’m pleased to say that was the case again on Saturday.

“Our forwards caused them a lot of problems from start to finish.”

Winger Luke Wanadio, who recently joined Cugley’s side on a one-month loan from National League South Dartford, scored a hat-trick at Potters Bar.

“It was not the best hat-trick in the world but a hat-trick is a hat-trick,” stated the long-serving Invicta manager, a striker in his playing days.

“Hopefully, we can give him the games that he needs to help progress his career.”

Lethal strike duo Dave Smith (2) and Ade Yusuff also added to their respective tallies, while Ian Draycott got their other goal.

Cugley enthused: “I said, when I signed them both, that I wanted 30 goals from both of them (Smith and Yusuff) and they’re on course for that.

"Since they have arrived, I think they have really helped each other.

“You want people to want to outscore each other - but you want them to be team-mates as well. They are good lads.”

Wanadio was not available for Folkestone’s Kent Senior Cup match against VCD on Tuesday - Invicta’s first in three successive home games.

But he should return against Carshalton to make his Invicta home bow.

After their match against the Robins - who beat Cheshunt 2-1 last weekend, also won 1-0 against Merstham in the Velocity Trophy on Monday and are seven points behind Invicta - Folkestone will host Bowers & Pitsea on Tuesday.

Cugley has a fully-fit squad and some welcome selection headaches.

“I know he’s my player-coach but, on Saturday, Micheal Everitt could not even get in the squad,” he said. “That shows how strong we are.

“We are all right with injuries at the moment and our disciplinary record is very good, so it’s all positive news.”

Folkestone’s Velocity Trophy last-16 tie at home to Cray Valley will be played on Tuesday, February 22, which means their league away trip to Horsham will be played on Tuesday, March 8 instead.

Invicta won their midweek Kent Senior Cup tie against VCD, winning 3-2 on penalties after a goalless draw at Cheriton Road.

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