Invicta boss Neil Cugley brought promising youngsters Josh Burchell and Josh Vincent into the starting line up last night for their first senior starts of the campaign and neither failed to impress the manager.

Folkestone manager commented, “Both of them done very well indeed. Burchy was against Danny Chapman who obviously has played for us before and is a very experienced midfielder and I think he done well against him. That’s pleasing after Billy (Swallow) playing so well on Saturday and Burchy putting in a performance like last night – left backs aren’t easier to get hold of either! JV I think is a good player already and he’s one of those lads we can keep working on and who can get better and better.”

Despite being named in the original starting line up, Billy ‘Shadow’ narrowly missed out on a second start of the season after experiencing discomfort in his leg before the match following a crunching challenge on Saturday afternoon.

The line up last night also included loan signings Frankie Chappell (left) – back from Welling United – and Gillingham hot prospect Tayler Thomas. Both players have just started one month loan spells at the Buzzlines Stadium.

Former Invicta player Mark Towse who started the season with Corinthian Casuals was also named in the squad after signing Ryman forms.

“We’re taking things one month at a time at the moment with everything that’s happening and I’ve called in a couple of favours there to get them down here. Both of them (Chaps and Thomas) done alright last night but both are a bit rusty still as they haven’t played many games, so it also suits both parties. We’re using every avenue we can to get a good side out.

“Towsey is helping me out; he lives up that way and he’s a handy player to have around, especially in our present position. He’s not down this way during the week but if we have games up that way he can come in and help us out and it’s very much appreciated.”

Last night’s final scoreline flattered an experienced Cray Wanderers side when it was the Seasiders who had made much of the early running and who had took the lead through a superbly planted Jimmy Dryden header from a delightful Jimmy Jackson cross from the left.

“I thought first half we played some tremendous football and the young lads got the ball down and I was really pleased. They could have been a bit overawed and Cray have got a lot of experience and are a strong side but to be fair to us we got the ball down and did well and I was very disappointed to be down at half time.

“These young lads will get better and better and we’ve got to keep encouraging them and hopefully the fans will continue to get behind them. Cray should be in the play offs come the end of the season and we weren’t far off them to be honest. We had the better first half but giving away the goal so early in the second half was a big disappointment and I felt their experience came through as the game went on.

“Second half we created a couple of chances but never looked like getting back into it in the sense of taking all the points home. We lacked a bit of self belief when we needed to kick on, but that’ll come. On the balance of play I felt we deserved a draw.”

It has been a particularly busy period for the Invicta boss who spent this afternoon with player-coach Scott Lindsey watching Gillingham reserves draw 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion reserves.

“I’m trying to get around as many games as possible to find players who we think could benefit this Football Club and there are certain ones who we’ve seen already who we think could do well at this level. Hopefully when we start getting things sorted we can bring in players who don’t want too much money and we can get going again.

“We train tomorrow night but on Friday I hope to watch Dicko as Herne Bay have a fireworks display on Saturday so they play Friday, and if I can’t then we’ll have someone at the game to see how he is getting on.”

Dickson’s loan spell at Bay finishes this weekend and Cugley hinted he could start next Tuesday away at Godalming Town.

“We have a slight problem with him because of his college commitments and that was one of the reasons why we thought it would be good for him to go to Herne Bay but obviously if I’d known what was going to happen I would never have let him go!”

Invicta make another away trip this weekend to take on mid table outfit Eastbourne Town. Aside from the suspensions to Matt Bourne and James Everitt, the Invicta boss should have no fresh injury concerns. Lee Spiller (left) should have his knee operation shortly as his preferred surgeon is now available and he should be fit for match action at the end of November.

Jimmy Corbett was taken off as a precaution last night with a tight hamstring, although he is expected to be fit for Saturday.

“Kieron Byrne done ever so well when he came on against Cray so we might even use him and Corbs on Saturday and change things around a little bit and also try and get Tayler further forward as well.”

The Seasiders make the trip to Eastbourne with the hosts having won back to back victories. Invicta are effectively joint second on 24 points, a position shared with Metropolitan Police and now Cray, although the former have played one game more than their play off chasing counterparts.

Eastbourne themselves are only a victory outside the play off places, and Fleet Town – perhaps unnoticeable at the moment – have two matches in hand and victory in those would put them right in the promotion mix.

“I’ve been speaking to a couple of managers about them lately and I think people thought they were never going to be one of the ‘better’ sides but then you look at their last two games and they’ve beaten Crowborough 3-0 away and Sittingbourne 2-1 at home last Saturday. I think they’re a bit like us in some ways; young, energetic and hopefully we can match them on that side of things and our experience and quality with players like Jacko and Corbs will see us to victory.

“I’ve certainly not given up on trying to get reach the play offs and I’m determined to build a side that will play good football, mixing promising young players with experienced lads and I think we’ll come through this period with a lot to be positive about.”