Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley has challenged his players to show consistency
Published: 11:00, 25 October 2017
Updated: 11:38, 25 October 2017
Folkestone boss Neil Cugley has challenged his players to maintain the high levels they reached in Saturday’s stunning win at Leiston.
Invicta thrashed the Suffolk side 5-1 on their own patch and Cugley described the performance as one of their best during his 21-year reign.
But with barely a quarter of their Bostik Premier games completed, the manager knows better than to get too excited.
Cugley said: “We’ve had three good wins but what it’s all about at this level is consistency and that’s what I keep saying to the players.
“When they’re firing, we have got good players.
“We had no Joe Taylor and no Kieron McCann on Saturday so you bring them into that and Ronnie Dolan to be fit and it’s not a bad squad.”
The best he’s had at Folkestone?
“It’s difficult to say,” Cugley said. “Football’s changed so much. I couldn’t compare them to the side I first had at Folkestone.
“It’s one of the better ones I’ve had recently but they’ve got to do it week in, week out and see where we finish.”
Folkestone, who won 1-0 at Tooting & Mitcham last night (Tuesday), go back to Leiston on Saturday in the FA Trophy first qualifying round.
Cugley said: “I bet their manager can’t wait, he’ll want to put that right.
“It’s different for us now, we’ve got everything to lose and we won’t go there and win 5-1 again. They are a good side.”
Ade Yusuff served his one-match suspension at Tooting while Joe Taylor is back after illness.
However, Sam Hasler is banned for Folkestone’s next two games after racking up 10 yellow cards, which includes Tuesday’s league clash with Thurrock at the Fullicks Stadium.
Cugley said: “I’m disappointed he’s picked up so many bookings. He’s got to improve his discipline. He’s not a bad lad but they’re for non-descript sorts of things.
“He’s a silly boy because we don’t pay people once they’re suspended. He’ll have to pay his own fines so it’s costing him money but it’s the only way he’ll learn.
“He’s a good player and scored a great goal on Saturday.”
Summer signing Salvyn Kisitu has joined Sittingbourne in Bostik South after being released by Folkestone.
The 21-year-old defender made five starts but hadn’t featured since the FA Cup win over Tooting on September 16.
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Steve Tervet