Lovell looking for reaction after back-to-back defeats

ASHFORD TOWN will be looking to get their promotion charge back-on-track this weekend when they travel to the vastly improved Croydon Athletic side, writes Sam Dixon.

When the two teams met earlier in the season, Croydon Athletic were rooted to the bottom of Ryman South but came away from Homelands with a point after Danny Waldren levelled for the Rams after Claude Seanla had put the Nuts and Bolts a goal up.

Since the arrival of management duo Tim O’Shea and Neil Smith in December last year, Croydon Athletic have dispelled all relegation fears and have moved to mid-table stability.

Ashford Town have suffered from injury woes recently and their 15 game unbeaten run came to an end last week at Whitstable Town, but manager Steve Lovell knows that a win at the Keith Tuckey Stadium will put his side right back amongst the challengers.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game,“ Lovell told www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk. “Croydon have bought in a few players and are having a go.

“The last two results have been disappointing but with fixtures how they are this week we know that if we get a win on Saturday we can move back to within striking distance of the top spot.

“It’s going to be a tough game but we are good enough to bounce back and get the result we want. “

Lovell also confirmed that he is hopeful to have a new signing in place for the trip to Surrey, but he is hopeful that skipper Sean Ray and winger Mitchell Sherwood will be return.

Ray missed the Cray Wanderers defeat due to a groin injury and Sherwood had a hamstring strain, but both are recovering well and Lovell is hopeful that they will be able to play some part.

However, other injury victims Paul Jones and Jimmy Bottle are only rated as 50/50 to be fit in time for the clash.

Jones hobbled out of the Cray game after just 13 minutes with a re-occurrence of a hamstring strain and Bottle has missed the last three games with knee ligament damage. Lovell is less confident about their participation. Josh Willis and Mark Lovell are the other long-term absentees.

Article courtesy of www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

Croydon Athletic v Ashford Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 28^th February 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Keith Tuckey Stadium, Off Mayfield Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 6DN