Invicta should be back in action after lay-off; Three more sign on for 2012/13

As conditions continue to improve, Folkestone’s chances of getting back into action in earnest draw closer with Saturday’s short trip to Faversham looking increasingly likely to bring their first game of the month.

“We can’t wait to get going again” said manager Neil Cugley earlier this week.

“We now need to get back to the way we were playing in December and get our bid for a play-off place right back on track.

“January wasn’t a disastrous month, but it wasn’t a great one either.

“With the re-arranged games, March is now looking a very important month indeed for us when we play most of the top teams.”

With the postponed fixture against Walton Casuals and Maidstone now re-arranged, Invicta have seven games next month – with four away and three at home.

The new programme is – March 3: Bognor Regis (A); March 7: Walton Casuals (H); March 10: Dulwich Hamlet (H): March 14: Maidstone United (A); March 17: Walton & Hersham (A); March 24: Whyteleafe (H); March 31: Worthing (A).

With two games frozen off, boss Cugley has put the time to get use by signing up three more of his first team squad on new, extended deals.

Putting pen to paper this week were local trio Josh Burchell, Josh Vincent and Liam Dickson, bringing the number of players already signed on for season 2012/13 to seven – also including Jack Delo, Stuart King, Darren Marsden and James Everitt.

“These three more signings keep us ticking on and going along the way we want to go. We can’t afford to bring in players from London any more, and the lads we’ve got signed up for next season are all (fairly) local, all still in their early 20s, and have already shown us that they can play at the level where we want to be” added Neil.

And a happy Cugley reports no injuries and no suspensions with a full squad to choose from as Invicta bid to pick up three more points on the road. The return fixture at Cheriton Road ended in the stalemate of a 0-0 draw – though Folkestone were denied a late penalty when Josh Burchell was blatantly taken out only seconds from time.

“They’ve got some good players – Danny Hockton’s there now, I believe, and they’ve still got Matt Bourne, one of the best defenders this league - so we know we’ll have to be back on our game to take all three points” said Cugley.

Following Saturday’s game, Folkestone end February at home to Ramsgate on February 25.