Invicta can put the disappointment of Tuesday’s exit from the FA Trophy firmly behind them by recording their first ever win over Dorking Wanderers at the Fullicks Stadium on Saturday.
“Thanks for not phoning me yesterday” said manager Neil Cugley this morning, Thursday.
If we don’t know by now we never will, boss!!
Folkestone certainly dominated the game and as Neil says, should have had it won long before extra-time when a late goal apiece brought that penalty shoot-out, and the rest, as they say is history.
“You can’t have that much of a game a not score goals” added Cugs. “We had 15 corners and never made one of them count.
“We’ve got to learn to finish teams off – it’s something we’ve all been saying for some time. Even the first (Trophy) game at Leiston we were in control in the first hour or so and should have came away with a win.
“But we’ve got a really important two months between now and Christmas. I’m hoping that we’ll have Ronnie Dolan back before the end of November and I’m hopeful of getting one more player in by then too.
“If we can do that, we should have a real idea of where we’re at and what we can aim for in the second half of the season. We’re doing pretty well at the moment, but can always do better.”
This weekend’s visitors, Dorking Wanderers, finished runners up to Invicta in our championship winning season two years ago, but missed out on promotion when beaten 2-1 in the Play-Off Semi-Final at home to Faversham Town where one time Folkestone loanee Charley Robertson grabbed the winning goal.
That was Dorking’s first season in the then Ryman League and our two games against them were memorable for very different reasons.
At The Fullicks we trailed to a goal by Kevin Terry before Ian Draycott’s second half equaliser gave us a point in a 1-1 draw on an August Bank Holiday Saturday which must have been easily the hottest day of the year.
Then, on almost the corresponding Saturday of the season, we lost by the only goal of the game at Dorking’s fittingly named Westhumble Playing Fields when it rained heavily for the first hour before one of our ex-players, Jake Beecroft punished a rare slip by Tim Roberts to give the Surrey outfit all three points.
Last season, the Wanderers only missed out on the Southern Division title on goal difference to Tooting & Mitcham but won both their play-off games on penalties to earn promotion to the now Bostik Premier Division.
For the record, those play-off matches – both at Westhumble – were against Hastings United 1-1 (4-3 on pens) and Corinthian Casuals 0-0 (5-4).
Like Tooting, Marc White’s side appear to be struggling for consistency at Premier Division level – something we know all about ourselves from last season.
While Invicta’s good recent league run has taken them up to seventh in the table with 23 points from 12 games, Dorking are currently 15th, six points worse off and have played two games more.
Thirteen of Wanderers’ 17 points have come at home with just one win (2-1 at Merstham) and a 2-2 draw (at Harlow) on the road.
But they have smashed in nine goals without reply in their two most recent games, beating lower league sides Walton Casuals 4-0 in the Surrey Cup and Ware 5-0 to reach the second round of the FA Trophy last weekend.
By the luck of the draw we would have had to play them away in the second round next weekend – though Leiston of course, now have that pleasure.
“They’ve got some very good players” said Invicta boss Cugley.
“The winger (Matt) Briggs is one we will have to keep an eye on and they’ve got several others who come into that category.”
Those include former AFC Wimbledon and Margate midfielder Lewis Taylor who was signed from Kingstonian just a few weeks ago, and ex-Woking legend Giuseppe Sole – both of whom, like Briggs have an eye for goal.
The form of Surrey University student Briggs’ (who scored 24 goals last season) has attracted interest from league clubs and he has had trials with both Burnley and Blackburn.
Along with the pacy and dangerous Taylor, another recent recruit is goalkeeper Josh Pelling, snapped up from Hastings United.
Nat Blanks is definitely out for Folkestone following an awful gash to his knee and leg suffered in the first Trophy game at Leiston.
“He had the knee glued, which is what they do these days,” said boss Cugley, “but it come unstuck so had to miss the Leiston replay. He might be okay for Leatherhead (away) next Wednesday, but may well need longer than that.”
Sam Hasler returns after suspension and Callum Davies, who was unavailable in midweek, will resume the captaincy.