Manager Neil Cugley has conceded relegation is now virtually certain for Folkestone Invicta after Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat by Canvey Island.

It left Invicta seven points from safety in the Ryman League Premier Division with only five matches left to play and Cugley admitted: "We probably need to win at least four of them to give ourselves a chance and that’s a lot to ask.

"I always knew it was going to be tough this season but it would have been nice to have been proved wrong.

"In terms of team spirit and commitment I could not have asked for any more from the players but we just haven’t had that little bit of quality and haven’t got the funds to change the situation.

"We knew it was going to be a long-term thing with this squad and hopefully what they have learned this season will help them in the next two or three years."

This Saturday Folkestone are away to third-placed Harrow Borough and Cugley confirmed that Gary Lockyer, who came on as a half-time substitute for the injured Micheal Everitt (thigh strain) on Tuesday, will again be in the squad after being recalled from his loan spell with Deal Town.

The 18-year-old striker scored four times in his last three games for Deal.

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