Neil Cugley insists there is no pressure on Folkestone Invicta despite the bookies making them 8/1 third favourites to win the title.

Invicta reached the Ryman League Division 1 South play-offs last season and have kept their side together over the summer.

Boss Cugley (pictured) said: "We have a small squad and would need to be lucky with injuries but I understand where the bookies are coming from.

"Our strongest XI are an outstanding team and we play great football.

"It would be nice to get to the play-offs again but there’s no pressure on us to do anything.

"It’s not like anyone’s said we’ve got to achieve this or that. There are a number of decent sides and it’s going to be a good league this season.

"There’s a lot of pressure on Maidstone with the new ground and the money they’re spending.

"Hythe have got a good team and a lot of people are talking about Faversham and Whitstable too."

Darren Marsden and Josh Burchell were on target as Invicta won their opening pre-season friendly 2-0 against Deal Town on Saturday.

Cugley’s side made it two wins out of two when young striker Ryan Philpott and two late efforts from Marsden clinched a 3-1 win over Canterbury City on Tuesday.

Golden Boot winner Stuart King returns for the game at Ashford United on Saturday.

Cugley is pleased to have striker King available but is also looking forward to seeing more of Philpott, 18, and left-back Casey Williams, 16.

He said: "We tend to spend our budget on the starting XI so it’s important we have good young players who can go on the bench."