Tommy Warrilow has called on his Ashford players to stand up and be counted after a second successive league defeat.

The Nuts & Bolts lost 2-0 to a pair of late goals at Burgess Hill on Saturday, having missed chances to lead.

They remain second in Isthmian South East, three points leaders Cray Valley.

And while boss Warrilow is more than happy with their position as Christmas approaches, he’s keen to get back on track at home to Corinthian this Saturday.

“We’ve lost two games, it happens,” said Warrilow, who was missing injured duo Tommie Fagg and Johan ter Horst, and the suspended Jay May.

“It’s unusual for us, and that’s not being big-headed or brash, but I can’t remember the last time we lost two on the spin.

“Now we’ll see what the boys are made of.

“We can’t start feeling sorry for ourselves.

“We’ve got to be mentally strong, stand up and be counted and take responsibility.

“I always say there’s more to come from the boys and you do learn more in defeat.

“From day one I’ve said you want to be in and around it come the new year and that’s when you look to build runs.

“Fortunately we’re second after losing our last two games and if someone had offered me that at this stage, I’d have taken that.

“It’s nice to be top but it means nothing - you just want to be in and around it come January.”

The outcome at Burgess Hill might have been different had Lewis Taylor - Warrilow’s former player at Tonbridge - seen red for a poor challenge on in-form Roberto Ratti.

But he got away with it and Ashford paid the price for missing some good chances.

Warrilow said: “I’m not one to moan about decisions but the lad should have been sent off in the first half when he shoves Robert into the hoardings.

“It was my old player, Lewis Taylor, who got the winning goal in the play-off final.

“In football you don’t take things personally but I think he probably knows deep down he got away with one there.

“He’s not a dirty player but he should have walked.

“We’ve had some really good opportunities in the game - we could have been in front in 30 seconds - but we haven’t shown enough desire to get on the end of things.

“That’s not a pop at the forwards, it’s everyone.

“I don’t think we’ve played badly but we should have been in front before they scored and we paid the ultimate price.”

There’s good news on the injury front with goalkeeper Jordan Carey nearing a return from his triple elbow fracture.

He’s back in training and should soon be pushing Tyler McCarthy, who was signed as his replacement.

“We thought he might be out for the season at first but that’s proved not to be the case,” said the Nuts & Bolts boss.

“We don’t want to rush him back but it’s good to see him back in training.

“That will give us two genuine No.1s and it’ll be down to them to fight it out to play.”