Two clubs with their sights on the play-offs meet for the second time this season when Folkestone Invicta travel to Hendon in the Bostik League Premier Division this weekend.
Invicta have not played since winning 2-0 at Lowestoft a week ago Tuesday, while the Greens ‘ last game, which was also in Suffolk, saw them draw 3-3 at Needham Market on Saturday.
After their own home game against Lowestoft was one of the many fixtures washed out at the weekend, Folkestone boss Neil Cugley reports all is well and expects to have a full squad for the game at Hendon’s Silver Jubilee Stadium.
The only player definitely missing is midfielder Jordan Wright who made a successful start to his month’s loan in Ashford United’s 3-3 draw with Hythe Town last weekend.
Ronnie Dolan may play his second game on the dual registration arrangement with Whitstable Town away at AFC Croydon Athletic and boss Neil said: “I’m still thinking about that one. I’ll have to talk to them (Whitstable) and to Ronnie tomorrow but it probably makes sense for him to get another full game. He’ll be involved in our friendly at Ashford next Tuesday, so that’ll be three games after which he should be back up and running.”
Like Invicta, Hendon have been in the top six or seven of the table for quite some time now. Indeed, when they came to Folkestone back in September they were second in the table before that lively game which Invicta won 3-2, coming from two goals down to win with second half strikes from Ade Yusuff (penalty), Josh Vincent and Joe Taylor.
Turning his mind to Saturday’s game, Cugley said: “They’re a good attacking side, just as we can be most of the time. It’s a good 3G up there, and should be a really good game that could be pivotal in regard to our season.”
Having been involved in the league cup and FA Trophy, Hendon have played only twice in the league during January, and apart from the draw at Needham, lost their only other league game this month when they went down 1-0 at Wingate & Finchley on New Year’s Day.
Impressive striker Niko Muir, who scored both their early goals at Folkestone back in September, currently still heads the Bostik Premier goalscoring list with 23 goals, four more (in Bostik terms) than ourown Ade Yusuff.
The form of Muir, whose return to the Greens from Leiston where he spent the second half of last season, has been a key favour in the club’s success this time around after they, like Folkestone, needed something of a late recovery to escape relegation in 2016/17.
The 25-year-old has reportedly been attracting scouts from a number of Football League clubs including Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon and Harry Kewell’s Crawley Town. Championship side Queens Park Rangers are also said to be interested.
But Hendon’s top scorer Muir was left on the bench last weekend, only for young ex-Potters Bar Town striker Ashley Nathaniel-George to start grabbing the limelight with the wide man been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks.
Folkestone’s only previous visit to the Silver Jubilee Stadium ended in a 3-3 draw back in December 2016 when they led 2-0 and 3-1 at various stages of the game before being pegged back late on.
One player they won’t face on Saturday is experienced striker Kezie Ibe whose late, late equaliser salvaged a point for Hendon that night.
Ibe, 35, a former Yeovil, Ebbsfleet and Chelmsford player has now moved on to Harlow Town.
- Folkestone’s home game against Lowestoft Town is now rescheduled for Tuesday, February 27th,