Lovell expects a tough challenge from Folkestone's youngsters

ASHFORD TOWN boss Steve Lovell is looking forward to the big local showdown against Folkestone Invicta on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Nuts & Bolts have defeated Kingstonian (3-2); Eastbourne Town (1-0); Leatherhead (5-1); Crowborough Athletic (3-1) and Walton Casuals (3-0) and are on a nine-match unbeaten run.

As a result, they have romped up the Ryman League Division One South table into fourth place and are just five points behind leaders Kingstonian.

And with the K’s playing second placed side Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane on Saturday, Lovell knows victory over troubled Folkestone Invicta will increase their title chances.

“The last nine games really have been very consistent,” Lovell told www.kentishfootball.co.uk on Christmas Eve. “Something that I thought earlier in the season we were lacking, but hopefully now we can look forward to a very exciting second part of the season, not just for our football club, but with quite a few of our opposing teams.

“All managers at the start of the season would like to say they would like to win the title, but obviously you have to work towards that, get yourself into a strong position to have a go for it.

“The likes of ourselves, Sittingbourne, Worthing, to name but a few, are in that position to push on it the New Year and make that push for the top of the league.

“I don’t think any anyone can say there going to win the title. All we’re going to do is continue playing the football that we’re playing and if we continue the way that we have been we’ll have a good chance off being in the mix at the end.”

A crowd of over 1,000 is expected at The Homelands to watch the big Kent derby and Folkestone Invicta go into the game having picked up ten points from their last ten games during a time that they can’t pay their players due to their current financial problems.

Lovell, meanwhile, is looking forward to the match, but admitted he is expecting a tough encounter against Neil Cugley’s youngsters.

“Local derbies are big games and this one has obviously the added spice that Ashford and Folkestone haven’t played each other in the league for a few years now so it will be a good game,” said Lovell.

“I’ve watched them play a couple of times in the last few weeks and they are a very young, enthusiastic and decent side so again it will be a tough challenge and one that we’ll have to be on our best if we’re going to get anything out of the game.”

Welsh striker Lovell, who played professional football for the likes of Millwall and Gillingham, is disappointed that the Ryman League have only allocated teams just two games in seven days - the next one being their trip to struggling Whitstable Town on Saturday 3^rd January 2009.