Neil Cugley felt Folkestone were back to their best on Tuesday night.

His side won 3-0 at home to Whyteleafe to open up a 16-point gap at the top of Ryman League Division 1 South with 10 games left.

Folkestone, held 2-2 by Kent rivals Faversham on Saturday, were far too good for a limited Leafe side at the Fullicks Stadium and could have won by a much bigger margin.

Cugley said: "I’m disappointed we didn’t put more chances away but some of the football we played was of a high standard. I didn’t think we played very well on Saturday but we were back to some really good football on Tuesday.

"Our creative players did well and kept their shape a bit better than they have done.

"Scott Heard had one of his best games for ages, Ashley Miller was dangerous and Ian Draycott is popping up with the goals, so all round it was good.

"It was easy, to be fair, but even in those games, you just need one lad to have a shot and it’s back to 2-1 and the whole game changes. You’ve still got to keep plugging away.

"It would have been nice if we’d got the third goal earlier and then we could have kept building on and maybe got the subs on a little bit earlier - but I can’t moan."

The form of Folkestone's young players gave Cugley even more reason to smile given how important they are to the club's immediate future - which is probably in the Ryman League Premier Division.

He said: "Ronnie Dolan’s come in (for Phil Starkey, who was ill) and done well. That puts me under a bit of pressure and that’s what I want.

"Playing at home suits Scott Heard because it’s a bigger pitch. Sometimes on harder pitches it’s more difficult to get him in the game but he gets into great areas and he is lively.

"We’re not short of money but we’re not a big paying club so we’ve got to keep sticking with these lads and keep trying to make them better.

"Miller’s done well in the last few games, he’s got better, Harry Smith’s done better and this is what we want. Callum Wraight’s done well and these are the lads that have got to keep it going."

Folkestone are back at home on Saturday when they entertain struggling Chipstead.