Ashford Town manager Steve Lovell has called on his side to keep their composure when they face rivals Folkestone Invicta at Homelands on Saturday (3pm).

Lovell said: "I’ve watched Folkestone a couple of times. They are an organised, young team who are very enthusiastic.

"Being a local derby, they will be looking to get one over us. We’ve got to make sure we prepare right and do the right things."

Ashford have moved into fourth place in the Ryman League Division 1 South table after winning their last five matches, and Lovell added: "December and January are crucial months for every one of the top teams. At the start of the year, this is the position we wanted to be in.

"We’re up there but we’ve got to make sure we keep going."

Folkestone manager Neil Cugley is keeping his fingers crossed goalkeeper Charlie Mitten will be fit for the game.

Mitten suffered a suspected broken toe in his right foot during the first few minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Worthing and although the 34-year-old stayed on the pitch for the whole game, he was unable to take any goal kicks.

Cugley said: "I don’t want to think about the possibility of Charlie not being available because we haven’t got another senior goalkeeper.

"I am not in a position financially to be able to bring in anybody on loan, so I would have to throw in one of our youth team keepers."

Apart from Mitten, Cugley could also be without striker Joe Neilson, who was restricted to sitting on the subs’ bench on Saturday because of a broken rib.