Neil Cugley knows a week is a long time in football so a year ranks as an eternity.

The Folkestone Invicta boss will make the short trip from his home in Hythe to Reachfields for the Boxing Day derby, 12 months on from the crushing 8-0 win over their close rivals at Cheriton Road in the first ever Ryman League, Division 1 South clash between the two rivals.

Three of the goalscorers that day have since moved on with four-goal Stuart King now at Maidstone, while James Everitt defected to Hythe earlier this season and his brother Micheal is now player-coach at Whitstable.

A 2-0 victory on Easter Monday clinched the double for Cugley’s men but he still vividly remembers that Christmas win.

Cugley (pictured) said: "It was a great day. We were a strong side on a hell of a run which won me the manager-of-the-month award.

"Hythe are a strong, very experienced side and third in the table on merit. It will be a hard game."

Defender Liam Dickson looks set to miss the busy Christmas and New Year programme – five matches in the space of a fortnight – beginning with the
visit of Chipstead on Saturday.

Dickson damaged ankle ligaments in Invicta’s 1-0 win against Tooting earlier this month.