Long-serving Folkestone defender Josh Vincent is playing the best football of his career.

That's according to manager Neil Cugley, who gave Vincent his debut as a teenager almost 10 years ago.

Vincent, 28, has made 437 appearances for the club since then - mainly in what is now Bostik South.

But he's proving his quality and versatility in the Premier Division as Folkestone look to qualify for the play-offs.

Cugley said: "He's been tremendous this year. I think it's the best season he's had at the club.

"He's a good lad as well. His attitude's been spot-on and he's matured as a person and a player. I've been really pleased with him.

"It could have been a year, with other players leaving, when he thought 'it's not for me' but he hasn't.

"He's really got fit and strong and played right-back, wing-back and centre-half. He's done them all with credit.

"It's easy, when you've been at a club for quite a long time, to drop your standards but he's done the opposite and kicked on."

Vincent begins a three-match suspension on Saturday after racking up 15 yellow cards.

"He's been a bit unlucky," Cugley said. "He's a tough-tackling defender and it's quite easy to pick up bookings nowadays.

"We're disappointed for him to miss three games but the good thing is he should be back for the run-in and Kent Senior Cup final."

That final will see Folkestone take on Maidstone after Kieron McCann's late goal knocked Charlton out at the Fullicks Stadium on Wednesday.

"He's done well," said Cugley of his summer signing. "He's done two different roles.

"He's been a wide player and did really well in that position and recently we've played him as more of an attacking midfield player because of Scott Heard being out. Sam Hasler was out at the same time so we played him in there and he's done that really well.

"It's been good because people start having you watched and stop you playing a certain way and he's adapted to both roles really well. He's been a big part of what we've done.

"He stepped up two levels from Sevenoaks and wanted to show he could play at this level. All credit to the players because that's what they've done, showed character that they want to prove they can do it.

"You're definitely going into a semi-professional league once you play Bostik Premier. You have to do everything the right way to be right for your game - and there are a lot of games."