Steve Lovell has heaped the pressure on Walton Casuals ahead of Ashford Town’s match with their Ryman League Division 1 South relegation rivals on Saturday.

Casuals have been sucked into the battle to avoid the drop by the resurgence of Ashford and Whitstable in recent weeks.

Second-bottom Town leap-frogged Eastbourne Town and are three points behind Whitstable and Walton Casuals, having played five games fewer than the Surrey side and two less than their Kent rivals ahead of last night’s clash with Ramsgate at Homelands.

Now Town boss Lovell (pictured) believes a result on Saturday is more important to Walton.

He said: "Walton are right in the thick of it now – it will be a big game for both clubs. It will probably be even more important for them that it is for us because we have games in hand over them and games are running out for them. I am confident that if we go there and perform as we have been doing then we can get a result."

Lovell said Wednesday’s derby at home to title-chasing Folkestone would ‘be a good test’ for his side.

He said: "They have been on a good run but we played well when we lost there at Christmas."