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Folkestone Invicta manager Andy Drury has welcome selection headaches ahead of Isthmian Premier away match against Carshalton Athletic and home derby against Dover Athletic

05:00, 30 October 2024

updated: 12:30, 30 October 2024

Boss Andy Drury has some welcome selection headaches at Folkestone.

Having rebuilt his Isthmian Premier squad in the summer and after a mixed start, Invicta extended their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions with a 3-0 FA Trophy first-round victory at Southern League Central side Barton Rovers last Saturday.

Folkestone forward Tom Derry - was at the double in their weekend FA Trophy 3-0 away win. Picture: Randolph File
Folkestone forward Tom Derry - was at the double in their weekend FA Trophy 3-0 away win. Picture: Randolph File

They were triumphant without their unavailable midfielder Dean Rance, cup-tied young defender Joel Odeniran and captain Ian Gayle.

Centre-half Gayle was an unused substitute, having sustained a minor hamstring issue last week.

“We have got a good 18-man or 19-man squad,” said Drury. “We still had some good options on the bench, even with those players out. That’s pleasing.

“There will probably be one more in and out this week, and then I’ll be happy with that squad to move forward.

“Joel was cup-tied. Gayley tweaked his hamstring at training, so we didn’t want to risk him.

Folkestone forward makes team-of-the-week

“Sess (Chris Sessegnon) is still injured, as well, but I’m pretty well-set with the squad depth and the quality we have.

“It’s always good to have those kinds of headaches. I’ve not really been in this position before!

“But especially in November, people will need to be looked after.

“We will be resting players as and when we can because eight games in a month is a lot to play at this level.”

Invicta rarely looked in much trouble as they booked their place in the FA Trophy second round.

Folkestone boss Andy Drury. Picture: Stuart Watson
Folkestone boss Andy Drury. Picture: Stuart Watson

Drury reflected: “It was a good, professional performance.

“I don’t think we were ever in trouble, Jonny (Henly, their goalkeeper) made the one save that he had to. We looked good on Saturday.

“To be fair, we have performed quite well across the whole season, just certain moments have cost us. But we’re getting fitter and stronger.”

Forward Tom Derry marked his first start for Invicta in more than a month with a brace before midfielder Eze Ebuzoeme came off the substitutes’ bench to net a fine third, firing home from distance.

“Eze won the ball back and it was a great finish,” noted Drury. “He did well when he came on - as we expect all of our substitutes to do.”

Mid-table Isthmian Premier team Folkestone will aim to continue climbing the standings when they visit Carshalton this Saturday before a hotly-awaited derby against rivals Dover at Cheriton Road on Tuesday.

Drury said: “We have got seven league games and one Trophy game in November.

"It’s a case of ‘Can we get on a run and get into the play-offs before Christmas when there’s a lot more fixtures?’.

“Carshalton is always a tricky place to go. But if we perform the way that we can, there’s not many sides in the league who can live with us.

“Then, Tuesday is a game we will look forward to after Saturday. It should be a really exciting game.

“We know they have done well this season, but we’ll be confident.”

Invicta have been drawn at home against Southern League Premier Division South Hanwell Town in the FA Trophy second round on November 16.

Folkestone’s league trip to Horsham has been rearranged for a fifth time for Tuesday, November 26.

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