Neil Cugley stayed off the beers after Folkestone's nervy play-off victory on Tuesday night.

Invicta needed extra-time to see off Whyteleafe at the Fullicks Stadium, eventually winning the semi-final 2-1 to set up a meeting with Merstham in the final on Saturday.

Cugley said: "It’s such a big game, at home, crowd-wise and Saturday will be a big earner for the club. You feel that pressure and tension.

"I don’t mind a beer but I might not even bother tonight – I’ll wait for Saturday.

"I didn’t think we played very well in the first half but people have got to understand that players do get a bit apprehensive and nervous.

"It’s a massive game, bigger than the final in some respects. Once you get to the final, you can go out and enjoy it and what will be will be – but the semi-final seems a lot more pressured."

A header from Ian Draycott - his 43rd goal of the season - put gave Folkestone a 42nd-minute lead.

Cugley admitted: "If I’m honest I think it was against the run of play. They’d had the better chances up to then and ironically, I thought we were completely in control of the game when they scored. It’s a bit strange how the game went."

Whyteleafe's equaliser, scored by Roscoe D'Sane, came after centre-half Frankie Chappell had failed to cut out a long ball down the middle.

But Cugley said: "We’ve got a good spirit and players don’t suddenly start shouting at blokes. He made a mistake – move on.

"To be fair to Frankie and Liam Friend, I thought they were outstanding."

The winning goal came three minutes into extra time, thanks largely to Jordan Wright. The diminutive midfielder showed great skill and composure to volley Matt Newman's left-wing cross towards the far post, where Jason Thompson stabbed the ball into his own net.

Cugley said: "I don’t know how many times he’s done that this year. He’s been involved in four or five own goals where he’s come round the back and driven it across the goal. It’s a great technique he’s got, to get in the box.

"He’s had a really good season, he came from Lydd last year and now he’s involved in a play-off final."

He added: "I thought we did alright in the second half. We didn’t play very well in the first half and the goal came out of nothing but we were in control of the game after that.

"Even when we got the goal in extra time and they missed a penalty, it was frustrating that we gave the penalty away because we were completely in control."

Cugley's final word went to the 788 supporters who turned up to watch the semi-final.

He said: "I was shocked because I thought it’d be about 500. Hopefully we get over a thousand or even more on Saturday and they get behind us.

"The pitch wasn’t bad today but if we could get a bit of rain on it, I think it would make for a better game of football."

Saturday's final at the Fullicks Stadium kicks off at 3pm.