NOW EVERYONE'S PLAYING FOR A PLACE SAYS ANGRY NEIL

Invicta boss Neil Cugley was left angry and disappointed after an abject first-half performance saw his side beaten 3-1 by a maybe half-strength Maidstone United team at The Fullicks Stadium on Thursday.

“It was simply not good enough” said Neil, “and I had a right go at them at half-time. They’d let themselves down, let me down and let the club down.

“After the way we played against Tonbridge on Tuesday it was very disappointing indeed.

“Maybe it was because Maidstone didn’t have their strongest side out, but that shouldn’t have made any difference. We cannot let our standards drop like that if we’re going to achieve what we want to this season.”

Steve Harper, Chris Elliott and Matt Newman were all missing while Shane Hamshare was nursing a very sore ankle and is a major doubt for Saturday’s big pre-season clash with one of his former clubs, Dover Athletic.

“Those three will all be back tomorrow” said Neil today, Friday – “perhaps they did well to miss that performance!!

“Now (against Dover) virtually everyone is playing for his place in the starting line-up a week on Saturday.

“We’ve let several players go already. Ryan Philpott did well on loan at Deal last season – they like him and he’ll get the games he needs over there, and Luke Webb will probably go back into local football, but they’re still both signed on for us.”

Former Hythe and Dover midfielder Dale Skelton, who has appeared briefly in pre-season, and who is recovering from a cruciate injury, has also been ruled out of Cugley’s immediate plans.

“We’re going to be working with 17 or 18 for the Dover game and we might be looking to trim it down a little more from that number, depending on how tomorrow goes” said Cugley.

Gate receipts from the Dover game will go to assistant manager Mick Dix’s family.

Mick’s wife Heather is continuing her brave fight against a brain tumour and our thoughts remain with her and Mick at what must be a very difficult time.

Folkestone Invicta are very grateful indeed to our Conference South neighbours Dover Athletic FC for agreeing to play the friendly in this cause.

Stuart King scored a typically imaginative and skilful goal – direct from a corner – to give Folkestone a glimmer of a chance against Maidstone on Thursday.

His effort came in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

By then, though, Stones’ striker Alex Flisher had already helped himself to a 20-minute hat-trick.

Folkestone had had their chances, but were twice thwarted by highly debateable offside decisions after Josh Vincent’s powerful effort was well saved by Charlie Mitten and Dane Luchford was unlucky to see his flick sail just over the bar at the end of probably Invicta’s best move of the game.

Jimmy Dryden went close for the home side just seconds after the interval when his clever free-kick grazed the outside of the far post.