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Folkestone Invicta preparing to visit promotion rivals Burgess Hill Town in the FA Trophy second qualifying round

Promotion rivals Folkestone and Burgess Hill go head-to-head this weekend – but they’re playing for prize money, not points.

Invicta have already banked £5,200 for knocking Ramsgate and Thurrock out of the FA Trophy and another £3,250 is up for grabs on Saturday.

But they’re up against a Hillians side who have won 20 of their 25 games so far this season, losing only once – to Conference side Dartford in the FA Cup.

Jon Pilbeam in action for Folkestone against Walton Casuals on Saturday Picture: Paul Amos
Jon Pilbeam in action for Folkestone against Walton Casuals on Saturday Picture: Paul Amos

Burgess Hill go into the second qualifying round tie at the Green Elephants Stadium as slight favourites but Folkestone manager Neil Cugley is confident his side can make it through.

He said: "It’s a good test. There’s nobody that good in our league that we’ve got to fear anybody. If we play well ourselves, if my players perform to their maximum, we’ll be OK.

"But if we drop our standards, a team like Burgess Hill will make the most of it. They’re a good footballing side and they had a good run at the end of last season.

"I’m not a great lover of worrying too much about the other team, though."

Saturday’s game could prove to be a dress rehearsal for a play-off game in April, given that both clubs are well-placed in the Ryman League, Division 1 South top-five.

Cugley said: "The league is more important, of course but there’s money involved in the Trophy and we want to stay in it as long as possible.

"We’re one of the few clubs left in from our league and so are they."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.

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