Neil Cugley hailed Kane Rowland after the summer arrival rewarded his manager’s faith by emerging as the matchwinner at Bishop’s Stortford.

With Ade Yusuff suspended Cugley opted to give the No.10 shirt to Rowland ahead of Ian Draycott and the former Sittingbourne striker’s first Invicta goal proved enough to secure victory at the ProKit Stadium.

The win maintained Invicta’s 100% record on the road in the Bostik Premier and Cugley admitted it was good to see his hunch pay off.

The Invicta boss said: “Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong but on this occasion it was nice that it paid off.

“I went for Kane as much for his height as anything, we’re not the biggest team in the world and he’s over six foot.

“He had a good game, took his goal well and hopefully it will do his confidence the power of good.”

Invicta’s win put them in fifth but on Saturday they turn their attention to the FA Cup with a first qualifying round tie against league rivals Burgess Hill Town – the first of two meetings between the sides in eight days.

Hill prop up the division with just two points from six games but this week added former Dover and Stevenage player Simon Wormull to their coaching staff and Cugley says they are not to be taken lightly.

He said: “They’re a side very similiar to us in terms of how they are run and I know their manager Ian Chapman very well.

“They went up the year before us and while they’ve not made a great start this season, it won’t be easy.

“Our away form this season has been good but if we have to bring them back here (for a replay) so be it.”

Yusuff and Sam Hasley will both be suspended while Saturday’s trip to Burgess Hill could be the last for defender Nat Blanks for some time.

Blanks faces an ankle operation on Friday week after which the left-back could be out for two months.

Cugley added: “It’s a real shame for Blanksie as he has been playing well, but he’s been on painkillers and it’s something he needs to get done.”

Phil Starkey came off the bench at Bishop’s Stortford and Cugley is keen to keep the experienced utility man involved.

He is also taking another look at forward Luis Medina, who first linked up with the club towards the end of pre-season.

Medina, who started the summer on trial with Dover, scored in two pre-season games for Invicta but the two parties were unable to agree on a deal then.

Cugley explained: “He’s keen to be part of what we’re doing but initially I just felt I hadn’t seen enough of him to make a decision.

“He only came to us towards the end of pre-season so he’s going to train with us this week and we’ll take it from there.”