Neil Cugley says it is time for his Folkestone players to stand up and be counted as the business end of the Ryman League, Premier Division season approaches.

Invicta have 11 games remaining and sit five places and seven points above the relegation zone before their visit to AFC Sudbury – three places and five points worse off – on Saturday (3pm).

Folkestone have claimed five points from their past four away games – scoring nine times – but suffered a third straight defeat at the Fullicks Stadium on Saturday, losing 4-1 to Harlow to make it 11 goals conceded in three games in front of their own fans.

Boss Cugley said: “We were excellent at Canvey (where they won 3-1), then had a late comeback to draw at Harlow but we were really poor on Saturday – or at least defended really poorly.

“We are giving away far too many goals. You can’t blame it on one person, it’s not the same player or the same thing every week.”

Invicta have not kept a clean sheet since November – a run of 16 games – but Cugley added: “Famous last words but scoring goals has not been a problem for us. If we could keep a couple of clean sheets between now and the end of the season, that would probably keep us up.”

Cugley insisted he relishes the high-pressure of a season climax and said: “I quite like this bit, seeing if players have got something about them, seeing who thrives under the pressure and who does not.

"This is the time to be counted. We’re not in a desperate position, we lost on Saturday but it’s not the end of the world. It is in our hands. You can bet those bottom four teams would love to be in our position right now.

“The pressure is on them. They have got to win more games than we do. If we could win two or three, then they’ll have to win an awful lot to catch us.

“We always knew this league and this season would be difficult. We had to adapt to a new level and get the finances right.

“That’s what happens when you get promoted, that’s what we put all that work in for last season. If you don’t like it, don’t get promoted. One thing about Folkestone is that we seem to do better each year.

“I have no doubt we’ll be better next season if we are able to confirm our place in the division and start to build for next season.”

Ashley Miller is banned after his sending-off against Harlow on Saturday following an off-the-ball kick on an opponent while Ronnie Dolan remains sidelined by a persistent ankle problem.