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Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley admits the club's support will be vital ahead of run of three successive home matches

Neil Cugley admits Folkestone’s home support will be vital ahead of a run of fixtures at Cheriton Road.

Isthmian Premier Invicta, still yet to lose inside 90 minutes at home this term, will host Bognor Regis this weekend and East Thurrock on Tuesday in the league, after tonight facing Isthmian South East Cray Valley high-fliers in the last-16 of the Velocity Trophy.

Folkestone manager Neil Cugley. Picture: Randolph File
Folkestone manager Neil Cugley. Picture: Randolph File

“They (the club's fans) have been tremendous really,” Invicta’s boss enthused.

“We have got a lot more than we thought we would this year and we now have three more home games in a short space of time. Let’s hope we can keep our good home form going."

When Invicta met Bognor in October, the Kent club won 4-2 - and Cugley is expecting another good match this Saturday.

“Bognor will be a really good game. They try and play football the right way, they will not be too far away come the end of the year," he said.

“They have a good link-up with Portsmouth as well, so it will be another tough game.”

Invicta have announced reduced admission prices for their match against Cray Valley. Adults can enter for £8, concessions for £5 and children for just £1.

Folkestone's sole defeat at home so far during this campaign came as they lost 3-2 in extra-time to National League Eastleigh in October.

Challenging for promotion to National League South through the play-offs this term, Invicta also are still in the Kent Senior Cup and enjoyed good runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy earlier this season.

Cugley reflected: “It’s been an incredible season, really.

“We had the Cup run, the Trophy run, and we are still in the two other cup competitions and we are in and around the play-offs.

“We will be doing our best to keep doing well in them (the cup competitions).”

Invicta saw their weekend match at Brightlingsea fall victim to Storm Eunice, with the Essex club having since shared the damage the storm had caused to their North Road ground.

Cugley admitted: “It cannot be helped.

“To be fair, I can’t see why they would have wanted a Saturday home game off if they could have helped it and I have seen pictures of their ground."

Folkestone did manage to play last Tuesday, beating strugglers Cray Wanderers 1-0 at home through striker Ade Yusuff’s 22nd goal of the season.

It ended a three-match winless run for Invicta who were without three key players.

Cugley commented: “To be fair, from what I have seen of Cray, I don’t think they are a bad side.

“It was a hard-earned victory. It was not the best of conditions but it’s one of those things you have to accept at this time of the year.

“We were without RJ (Ryan Johnson), Heardy (Scott Heard) and Matt Newman, which shows the strength of the squad we now have as, in the past, missing three experienced players like those would have caused issues, but we were still able to field a strong side and pick up the points.”

Cugley hopes midfielder Heard and defender Johnson will be available for the match against Bognor.

Meanwhile, striker Tyler Sterling is set to stay on loan at Hythe for the rest of the season - unless Invicta get hit by injuries.

Cugley added: "He's doing all right there, so let that continue."

Invicta will host either National League Bromley or National League South Ebbsfleet in their Kent Senior Cup quarter-final.

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