Danny Kedwell hopes Ashford have turned a corner after back-to-back league victories.

The Nuts & Bolts followed their 3-2 midweek comeback victory against Littlehampton by beating East Grinstead 3-0 at Homelands on Saturday.

James Dunne opened the scoring from the penalty spot and Louis Collins struck twice before half-time to fire Kedwell’s side up to 13th in Isthmian South East.

They’d lost four successive league games before beating Littlehampton and, with another win in the bag, Kedwell hopes it’s onwards and upwards.

They’ll be tested at second-placed Beckenham this Saturday (3pm) and that’s followed by another tricky match at Deal on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

“I keep saying everyone goes through a little bad patch and hopefully that’s ours done,” said boss Kedwell.

“I said that after Tuesday and on Saturday the standard was chalk and cheese from the start we had against Littlehampton when we were 2-0 down after 12 minutes.

“We were magnificent and to be 3-0 up at half-time shows me that win on Tuesday probably was our turning point.”

Kedwell was delighted for his weekend goalscorers, particularly Collins, who’s getting the rewards his efforts deserve.

“James Dunne and Louis Collins have been magnificent,” said the manager.

“They’ve been our best players, our most consistent players, and they deserved their goals.

“Louis always deserves his goals because of the amount of effort and work rate and energy he puts in. He doesn’t stop.

“Earlier in the season he was working so hard and not getting his rewards.

“I told him, ‘Keep working hard and those rewards will come’ and they’re starting to now.

“That’s three goals in two games and he’s gone from one league goal to seven in a few weeks, just like that.

“The harder he works, people are more worried about him and it leaves others open.

“He doesn’t stop running, he’s always on the move.

“He’s only 24, he’s not even in his prime yet.

“He’s had ups and downs in the last few years but he’s settled down, he’s playing every week and hopefully he can carry that form on.”

Ashford went down 3-0 at home to Beckenham at the end of October.

They’re yet to take points off a top side, having lost twice to new leaders Ramsgate, while they were also beaten at third-placed Sittingbourne at the start of the season.

That’s the next challenge for Kedwell’s side.

“We’ve got to start beating teams we’re not expected to beat,” said Kedwell, who has top scorer Gary Lockyer available after suspension.

“At the beginning of the season, probably everyone would have said we’d beat Beckenham but they’re flying.

“They are where they are, the same as Ramsgate and Sittingbourne.

“I think both games against Ramsgate we were the better side but when we played Beckenham at home, they started on flames and before you know it, you’re 2-0 down.

“They’re up there, it’s going to be a tough ask but they’re the games you’ve got to go and win, or get a result, if you’re going to have a good season.

“We’re a different team to when we played them at home.

“We didn’t have Barry Fuller and Tolu Jonah and Mikey Berry were out injured.”

A young Ashford side lost 6-0 at home to Margate in the League Cup on Tuesday night.