Ashford players on trial - EXCLUSIVE

Ashford Town boss Steve Lovell has told his players that they’ve got to impress him during the rest of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Nuts & Bolts have yet tasted victory under the Welshman during the seven games since he replaced Clive Walker at the end of October.

But Lovell said that all players are on trial, starting with Chatham Town’s visit to The Homelands in Saturday’s Kentish derby.

The Chats arrive at The Homelands in 15^th place in the Ryman League Division One South table on 21 points from 19 games - one place and one position higher than Ashford, having played a game more.

“They’re all big games now aren’t they?” Lovell said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk ahead of the big Kent derby.

“It’s come to this stage of the season and you take stock where you are and where you need to go.

“So the Christmas period is a very important period for all clubs.

“That’s the beauty of Christmas, everybody likes it, the players like it.

“December is a difficult month for us regards to fixtures, but if our last three games are anything to go by, we’re in for quite a few good games coming up.”

Ashford, under Walker, made the trip to Maidstone Road in August, and clinched the points courtesy of Charlie Glyde scoring the only goal of the game.

“A lot of changes have happened at the club over the last five weeks I’ve been here,” admitted Lovell, the former Sittingbourne manager.

“A lot of new players, players that have left. It’s a transition period really of getting used to each other and the way I want to play and it takes a bit of time.

“But as I said, the last three games have been very encouraging and with a bit of luck, we could have won all three but when you’re luck is down, it’s down!

“There’s been two goals late on in the game, in the 85^th and 87^th minute, that have cost us points.”

Going into Saturday’s derby in 16^th place, Lovell believes the new year will bring new hope for under-achieving Ashford Town.

“We are there because of the early part of the season, the form,” he explained.

“It’s been a very disappointing first part of the season for Ashford.

“I’m not worried about what’s happened in the past. I’m looking to the future and making 2008 better than 2007.

“What you have to look at and be realistic. As soon as the performances start picking up, results will come, that’s the main thing.

“We have to start playing the way I like to play, play football and have people in the team doing what they’re asked to do.

“If we do that, we’ve got the ability in the squad to win games. It’s just a matter of working on things and people understand what we’re trying to achieve.”

Judge Lovell will assess his current playing staff and make the necessary chances during the close season.

“I’ve got a squad of players that I’ve got to work with between now and the end of the season,” he said.

“Whether they’re the same players for next year, they’re all on trial to show me what they can do and if they do it to their maximum and we achieve a better end of the season, they’ve got a chance of staying with us.

“December is a very strong month fixture wise for us.

“It started at Dulwich, one of the in-form sides. Now we’ve got Chatham, which is a local derby. We go to Kingstonian, which will be a very hard game.

“We’re at home to Dover, which we all know about it, and we go to Sittingbourne, which adds a bit of spice to it, if you excuse the pun!

“It’s a difficult month, but football’s about playing the big games and assessing the players that you’ve got.”

Full-back Daniel Brathwaite returns to training tonight, having recovered from his groin injury and is in contention for Saturday.

Former Chatham Town striker Rob Denness, however, is available, having completed his one-match ban, but Aaron Freeman (groin) remains on the sidelines for another week.

Visit club websites:  www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk & www.chathamtownfc.net

Ashford Town v Chatham Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 15^th December 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Homelands, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ