FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley is delighted after finalising a deal that'll keep goalkeeper Jack Delo at Cheriton Road until the end of next season.

Delo was named players' player of the year last season and he's been a virtual ever-present in the Invicta line-up so far, missing just one Kent Senior Cup game.

The imposing stopper has made 160 appearances for Invicta since joining in 2008 and he's made himself one of the first names on Cugley's teamsheet.

Delo, 26, joins team-mates Stuart King, James Everitt, Josh Burchell and Darren Marsden in signing on for next season.

Cugley said: "It's a great signing for the club, it's just a shame it's not a five-year deal!

"Goalkeepers only get better and he's still only young himself.

"If you look at the Charlie Mittens of this world, they just get better and better as they grow older.

"They guys in the Premiership are the same. People like Brad Friedel are still doing a job well into their late 30s.

"If you're a goalkeeper and you keep yourself fit you can keep going and going. Jack's a good trainer and a lovely bloke and he cares about the club. It's good to get him on board."

Snow and ice wiped out the Ryman 1 South fixture card this weekend meaning Invicta's scheduled game against Walton Casuals was postponed.

The club had planned a generous offer to their fans to apologise for the 4-0 drubbing last time out that would see supporters get in for half-price. The players and manager would then make up the difference.

But that's now been put back to their next home game against Ramsgate on Saturday, February 25. Cugs said: "We still want to say thanks to our supporters and hopefully they'll get behind it.

"It might mean Ramsgate bring a few more too and that they come in their numbers."

But before that Invicta have a massive derby with play-off rivals Maidstone United to worry about.

A point and a place separate the pair but Invicta, despite being below them, do have a game in hand.

They saw them off earlier this season in a 3-2 thriller and, if Sittingbourne's Bourne Park pitch holds up and the game's on, it's all set to be as equally entertaining this time around.

Cugs said: "It is a big game and we need to get back on track after a terrible January.

"Maidstone are a good team and that's why they're up there with us.

"Their left-winger Ellis Green I'm a big fan of and Shaun Welford is a very good striker.

"He's a typical non-league player and a high class one at that.

"I spoke to him in the summer about coming but we couldn't really compete and find the money to get him over.

"The snow has been a little bit of a pain but players are so good nowadays and so fit that they are disciplined enough to deal with it. Our players especially work hard in the gym."

Invicta's friendly last Wednesday against Deal Town was abandoned due to a frozen pitch at half-time with Invicta 3-0 up, King netting two and Burchell at the other.

Marsden was unavailable on Saturday but is back this weekend while Liam Friend will shrug off an eye injury to play.