Having bemoaned their luck in being drawn away from home in the comparatively lesser cup competitions and the FA Trophy, Invicta can have no complaints whatsoever after getting a home tie for the third successive round in the Emirates FA Cup!

Again late out of metaphorical hat in the 37^th of the 40 Third Qualifying Round ties, Folkestone’s opponents will be Aylesbury United at the Fullicks Stadium on September 30^th.

Tie 38 involved Sunday’s combatants, Thamesmead Town and moneybags Glen Tamplin’s Billericay, the winners of whose replay have to visit our two-times FA Trophy opponents Hungerford (those that made that long trip will remember we lost there in a replay a few years back).

The Ducks are currently 17^th in Division One South East of the Evo-Stik Southern League and should not be confused with the second club bearing the name of the Buckinghamshire town, Aylesbury, aka The Moles who are three places lower in the same division.

United, in fact, now groundshare with Chesham United, 11 miles away from Aylesbury itself, having – according to Wikipedia – been evicted from their old Buckingham Road home 11 years ago, in 2006.

Recalling his and Invicta’s only previous encounter with The Ducks, Folkestone boss Neil Cugley said: “That was a great day for us – the first (and only) time (so far) we reached the First Round proper when we went onto play Chester City at the Deva Stadium on November 5^th  and were maybe unlucky to lose 2-1.”

Invicta had won their final qualifying round tie at Buckingham Road 2-0, with still club record scorer Jimmy Dryden getting both goals (from memory).

Cugs said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better draw, being at home and against a club from a lower league, is probably as good as it was going to get.”

We didn’t add that our great east Kent rivals and nearest Bostik Premier Division neighbours, Margate have been drawn at home Division One Herne Bay – game that many fans fancied!!

But given Folkestone’s good home record, they surely stand a better than even money chance of doubling their FA Cup money with another £7,500 – the total earned from their success so far in the first two rounds of our great national cup competition.

Boss Cugley said: “We’ve got a couple of important league games before that, and first things first, it’s the league cup away to VCD Athletic tomorrow night (Tuesday).”

Neil had been hoping to include youth team stars Euan Sahadow and Ethan Madden for that tie against Invicta’s Southern Division opponents in Crayford, but the under 18s have an arguably more important FA Youth Cup tie away to Ashford United on the same night.

For the  Velocity Trophy tie game, Folkestone’s side is expected to include Nat Blanks and Kwabs Osei, while Sam Hasler returns after a one game ban.

Ian Draycott will not be risked however. Cugs said: “His hamstring is still proving a bit of a problem, but Ade (Yusuff) looked good and scored in the second half against Tooting and he’ll start alongside Joe Taylor up front.”

Missing however will be fullback/midfielder Salvyn Kisitu who has asked to be rested and is unlikely to figure after struggling recently to hold down a starting place in the Folkestone side.

For those driving  to VCD, the address of the ground is  – Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent, DA1 4DN