More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Home Folkestone Sport Article
Boss Neil Cugley has called for Folkestone’s fans to get behind his side as they eye promotion to National League South.
Invicta are flying high and sit second in the Isthmian Premier Division table.
But they have failed to win any of their last three league games, surrendering a 3-1 lead on Saturday as they lost 4-3 at Bognor Regis.
Folkestone welcome Corinthian-Casuals to the Fullicks Stadium this Saturday before hosting Hornchurch on Tuesday.
Cugley said: “It is important fans get behind the club now.
“It could be a really exciting time for Folkestone Invicta Football Club, going into the final three months of the season.
“But we have to keep picking up points.
“If you look at our fixtures in the next five or six weeks, we are playing most of the top sides.
“We have Hornchurch to play, East Thurrock, Worthing, Carshalton and Cray to play, as well.
“We will need to be clinical in front of goal in those games.”
Frontman Ira Jackson bagged a hat-trick for Folkestone at Bognor, although his efforts proved in vain.
It means in-form Jackson has scored 11 goals in 12 matches for Cugley’s side.
“He has done well, and he is getting better and better,” said Cugley.
“We always said, once he settled down at a club, that he would do well.
“Two of his goals were from penalties on Saturday but you still need to score them.
“When he came to Folkestone, we told him he needs to settle down.
“But he has done ever so well for us.
“He now needs to keep performing week-in, week-out.”
Cugley also admitted his team need to now deal with the pressure of competing in the higher echelons of the table.
“Definitely. I have said that to the players,” he added.
“In some ways, we seem to play better when the pressure is not on.
“But that’s something we need to deal with, we have to take that as a compliment.
“Although we are quite experienced in terms of having players who have been at Folkestone for a long time, not many have played at a higher standard.
“But they need to take it on board.”
Full-back Alfie Paxman is set to return after a three-match suspension for the Corinthian-Casuals game.
Cugley said: “He has been outstanding for us so it will be good to get him back.”
Folkestone beat Bognor 4-3 in the Velocity Trophy on Tuesday and will face Basildon in the next round.
Johan Ter Horst scored twice while Ronnie Dolan and Jerson Dos Santos were on target, as well.
Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent
