Folkestone RFC are starting to welcome back their injured players and coach Leigh Fitchie insists promotion is still not beyond them this season.

Sitting fifth in London 3 South East, the Stones are 12 points behind leaders Horsham with almost half of the season gone.

Fitchie’s squad has been decimated by serious injuries over the last three months but he sees no reason they can’t overhaul the deficit.

He said: "At one stage, we had 20 first-team players out – an entire first-team. On the one side, that’s frustrating but on the other side we are building a squad with real depth. I’ve managed to put out a competitive side and even in the games when the result didn’t go our way, we’ve still had a chance of winning.

"The teams I expected to be at the top – Horsham, ourselves, Dartfordians and Bromley – the games between those teams have all been close. It’s just unfortunate that we’ve slipped up in other games.

"We are close to clicking and getting a little bit of momentum.

"This squad is capable of going on a good run and putting the pressure on the teams above us."

Folkestone are at home to Heathfield & Waldron on Saturday.