Manager Steve Lovell believes last Sunday’s FA Cup win over Mile Oak will kick-start Ashford Town’s Ryman League campaign.

Lovell’s new-look side went into the cup tie with only one point and three goals from their opening four matches in Division 1 South but 90 minutes later, they were walking off having beaten the Sussex County League strugglers 6-1 – and a lot more smiles around Homelands.

He said: "I think we can build on Sunday’s performance in the league although, to be honest, the only real difference from our three previous matches was that we managed to stick the ball in the back of the net.

"Getting a few goals always lifts your confidence, no matter who you are playing and the boys are starting to gel now."

Ashford are away to Met Police on Saturday and one player who has forced his way into contention for a starting spot is Luke Coleman.

The striker, who started the season with Ebbsfleet, was brought on as a 55th-minute substitute for Paul Jones and within 25 minutes, had helped himself to a hat-trick as the Nuts and Bolts booked themselves a trip to Leatherhead in the next round on September 12.

"Luke trained with us in pre-season but then decided to try his luck with Ebbsfleet," Lovell added.

"I told him that he would be welcome to come back if things didn’t work out and now he has given me a bit of a headache for this Saturday."

Lovell must also decide on a replacement for right-back Carl Harrold, who is serving a one-game suspension, while another of his new strikers, Kevin Swaisland, is ruled out by a hamstring injury.

But midfielder Darren Lye suffered no reaction from his recent hamstring problem after coming on for the last 20 minutes against Mile Oak and is likely to start.