Folkestone Invicta 1 Gloucester City 0: Reaction from manager Neil Cugley as he eyes another FA Cup home draw

By: Thomas Reeves treeves@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 03 October 2021

Updated: 14:47, 03 October 2021

Neil Cugley is eyeing another FA Cup home tie for his Folkestone team after they beat higher-league opposition on Saturday.

Cugley’s side moved into the fourth qualifying round of the competition after they got the better of 10-man National League North Gloucester City 1-0 as they bagged £5,625 in prize-money.

New Folkestone goalkeeper Alexis Andre Jr claims the ball on his debut in Invicta's 1-0 FA Cup win over Gloucester City. Picture: Randolph File

Clubs from the National League, including struggling local rivals Dover, will be in the hat for the draw for the next round which will be held on Monday afternoon.

Folkestone are now only one win away from the first round proper, too, when Football League clubs will enter the competition.

When asked who he wanted to get in the next round, the Folkestone manager said: “Somebody at home, really, for the fans.

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“I think this was a day where, if it wasn’t for the bad weather, we would have got 1,000 people here. It would be nice to get a home draw and get people along.

“So we will keep our fingers crossed for that.”

Folkestone manager Neil Cugley. Picture: Barry Goodwin

In terrible conditions, striker Ade Yusuff scored the only goal of the game to earn Folkestone victory in their third qualifying round tie in front of 669 fans at the Fullicks Stadium while captain Callum Davies put in a man-of-the-match display in defence.

Yusuff netted shortly after the away side had been reduced to 10 men in the first period, with Jordan Thompson sent off.

“Ade is always one of those players that can cause problems,” said Cugley. “As for Callum, he is just a quality player.

“We are so lucky to have him at the club. He loves it here and we love him. It suits his lifestyle with his work commitments here.

“But he could, easily, play at a higher standard.”

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In truth, full-time Gloucester City rarely threatened but Folkestone did survive a stoppage-time scare when a free-kick from substitute Benni Smales-Braithwaite crashed against the crossbar.

“I think both sides did their best in the conditions. Both sides tried to play football and get it into their frontmen,” said Cugley, reflecting on the cup match.

“There wasn’t too much long-ball football, so credit to them. They stayed with three up front, even with 10 men, and they made it difficult.

“But until they hit the bar right at the end, they didn’t really have a shot.”

Goalkeeper Tim Roberts faces a spell on the sidelines, with new signing Alexis Andre Jr, formerly of Bristol Rovers, coming in for his Folkestone debut in his place.

Cugley said: “It must be difficult for any keeper on a day like today in terms of their handling. But his handling was good.

“He kicked it alright, so he did alright overall.”

Explaining Roberts’ absence, Cugley added: “Tim has got a groin strain. He did it a couple of weeks ago.

“He risked himself last weekend (in the 3-3 draw against Potters Bar) but then said afterwards that he didn’t think he was quite ready for it. So we had to get somebody in.

“We actually would have played the lad (Andre Jr) against Hornchurch on Tuesday night in the game that ended up being off (due to the fuel crisis).

“But Tim Roberts is a quality goalkeeper when he is fully fit.”

Right-back Josh Vincent also missed out through injury against Gloucester City, and is expected to be out for “a couple of weeks”, while midfielder Kieron McCann (knee) could return to action in the next two or three weeks after having an operation.