Neil Cugley hopes Folkestone Invicta can address their “terrible” FA Trophy record with victory over Didcot Town on Saturday.

Folkestone haven’t reached the first round proper for 14 years but they’ll be 90 minutes away from that stage if they can knock out the Evo-Stik Southern Division 1 Central side, at the Fullicks Stadium.

Invicta have only made the third qualifying round twice during that time but are favourites to add to that tally this weekend.

Cugley said: “I played in some good sides at Folkestone but we never did well in this competition.

“Folkestone’s got a terrible record in the Trophy but let’s hope that ends this season.

“You know you’re not going to win it but it would be nice to get through a couple of rounds and play a Conference team.

“You couldn’t ask for a better tie. They’re a league below us and we’re at home, which is all you can ask.

“They’ll come here as underdogs and enjoy it but we’ve got to show we’ve turned the corner and we’re playing well.

“Let’s go and get a win because the prize money would be handy.”

Saturday’s winners will bank £4,000 and be joined in the next round by National League South clubs.

Matt Newman and Josh Vincent could both be fit although Alfie Paxman is suspended after being sent off in Saturday’s 3-2 league defeat at Worthing.

“It was a poor decision,” said Cugley. “I’m not one to go on about refs but the second booking was a foul to us.

“I just couldn’t get my head around it.

“The linesman was near so surely he could have spoken to him about it.

“Alfie had already been booked so we’d talked about getting him off just in case but he wasn’t involved in anything.

“He was fouled, not the other way round.

“When the yellow card came out, I thought it was for their bloke.

“Credit to our lads, we played well in the second half and got in the lead.

“With 11 players, I’m sure we’d have got something out of the game.”

Defeat saw Folkestone drop to 14th in Bostik Premier, their lowest position of the season, although Cugley insists they’re heading in the right direction.

He said: “We hit a low about a month ago and players weren’t playing well but I don’t think that now.

“We’re starting to look like we’ve got a nice squad, we’re playing well and it’s all positive. I’m quite relaxed about it all.”