by Alex Hoad

Ashford Town boss Steve Lovell faces a selection headache as his side look to secure their Ryman League status in the next two games.

Lovell said that any member of his squad who turns up fit for the clash against Whitstable at Homelands on Thursday is likely to start.

Town need just four points from their final four games to guarantee their place in Ryman League, Division 1 South next season but after fellow strugglers Whitstable, they face a trip to play-off chasing Fleet on Saturday before a home game against play-off-bound Worthing on Wednesday.

The Nuts and Bolts recorded their first win in seven with a 2-0 triumph against Sittingbourne on Saturday, bouncing back from the 6-0 humbling by Croydon last Wednesday.

However, they lost 1-0 at home to Met Police on Monday night, with keeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens (illness) and Laurence Harvey (back) pulling out before kick-off.

Lovell (pictured) said: "It was a disappointing night. There is just no end to the problems we have suffered this year.

"It was a poor goal to concede but we controlled the second half and we could have got something out of it in the end. We were paying the price for too many injuries."

He added: "We have got a good bunch of lads and those who have gone out there have given everything.

"It is just impossible to get any momentum going when you have got to make four or five changes every game. Last year we had a great run where we had nine or 10 players playing in every game.

"We had a squad of 18 to 20 fit players when we beat Walton and had 10 or 12 games left to look forward to this season. But since then, the problems have come back."

Nick Smith, Ronnie Dolan and Toby Ashmore will miss the Whitstable game while Danny Lye, Harvey and Chalmers-Stevens are all doubts.