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Folkestone Invicta ready to host Leatherhead in the Ryman League Division 1 South play-off final

Johan ter Horst takes on the Leatherhead defence Picture: Gary Browne
Johan ter Horst takes on the Leatherhead defence Picture: Gary Browne

A huge crowd will cram into the Fullicks Stadium on Saturday when Folkestone and Leatherhead clash in the Ryman League Division 1 South play-off final.

There were over 1,000 supporters - more than three times Invicta's average home gate - in the ground when Neil Cugley's side beat Hastings United 3-2 after extra-time in the semi-final on Tuesday night.

And with promotion awaiting Saturday's winners, an even bigger turnout is expected.

Cugley said: "We had a great crowd on Tuesday, they were brilliant, and we just want them to come along Saturday and get behind us.

"Hopefully people get behind us and come again to support the lads. They were brilliant, the fans, and I’m chuffed as anything."

Folkestone have home advantage in the final because they finished above Leatherhead in the final league table. But the Tanners would have taken the runners-up spot - and been at home in this game - were it not for the six-point deduction they were hit with for a registration irregularity.

Honours were even in the two league games between the teams.

Cugley said: "We’ve beaten Leatherhead here before but we didn’t play very well up at Leatherhead and we lost 1-0. I’m pleased we’ve got Leatherhead. I think we owe them one for the performance we did up there."

He added: "I don’t think we played as well as we can (in the semi-final). I suppose a bit of nerves and apprehension comes into it but I try to take that away from my players because I want them to enjoy it.

"Hopefully they’ll be a little bit more relaxed on Saturday and we can play football. When we’ve played Leatherhead, they’ve always got the ball forward really early, so we should have a lot of possession of the ball again."

Saturday's game will be Johan ter Horst's final appearance for Folkestone before he completes his transfer to Premier League club Hull City. The teenager has scored 27 goals in his first full season of senior football - so far.

Cugley said: "It would be nice if Johan could go out on a high on Saturday, scoring the winner or something like that. I think he’ll be well up for it. I know the lad well and I think he’ll be determined to get the winner before he goes off to Hull."

Kick-off at the Fullicks Stadium is at 3pm.

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