Worthing v Folkestone Invicta

FOLKESTONE Invicta’s small squad will be stretched to the limit when they return to action with a trip to Worthing on Saturday as they will have four defenders missing through suspension.

The experienced Paul Lamb and Adam Flanagan are both missing due to accumulative bookings, while teenagers James Everitt and Will Dunlop are banned due to recent sendings off.

But Invicta are expected to have defender Steve Norman back from injury and have re-signed Andrew Burke, who made 18 appearances for the club before being released due to cost cutting measures in January.

The 22-year-old Burke is a former Tottenham youngster who represented the Republic of Ireland at youth team level under current national team boss Brian Kerr.

Invicta’s home game against Slough Town was postponed last Saturday due to a frozen pitch, but other results went well for Neil Cugley’s side and Harrow Borough’s 3-0 home defeat against Billericay Town means that the Folkestone club stay out of the Ryman Premier League relegation zone on goal difference.

But seventh-placed Worthing will provide tough opposition for Invicta as the Sussex side won 2-1 at Cheriton Road back in October. The Sussex club are currently on a good run of form and were only denied victory at leaders Yeading on Saturday by a late goal in a 1-1 draw.

Speaking of the club’s involvement in the increasingly tight relegation battle, manager Cugley said: "Looking at the league table, I still feel that we need at least four wins to secure our Premier League status.

"We are now training three times a week and all the players and staff realise how important it is that we stay up and we will all be giving all that we have got to try and get us out of this situation.

"It has become a disappointing time with injuries and results and we intend to bounce back and come through this as a stronger unit."