Ashford’s midweek Kent Senior Cup victory was just what they needed following a rare league defeat.

The Nuts & Bolts lost top spot to Cray Valley after going down 3-2 at Chichester in Isthmian South East on Saturday.

They battled back from 2-0 down with 10 men after Jay May was sent off, squaring the match with Roberto Ratti’s double, only to concede at the death.

After a perfect November, manager Tommy Warrilow felt his side’s standards dropped at Chichester.

But they were back on their game on Tuesday night with goals from Gary Lockyer, Josh Wisson, May and Jack Steventon in a 4-0 Kent Senior Cup first-round win over Whitstable.

“I was glad we had the game because we weren’t at the races on Saturday,” said Warrilow.

“I said months ago you’re going to get games like that - no team goes through a season without under-performing in a few games - and unfortunately we just weren’t at it in the first half.

“We showed character to come back from two down with 10 men but they got the winner, which they deserved.

“We rested a few boys against Whitstable but it wasn’t a weakened side.

"We wanted a reaction and we won 4-0 with a really good performance.

"It meant we could go into training on Thursday and work off the back of that.

“Obviously we discussed Saturday - we don’t just forget things - but we wanted to get a smile back on the lads’ faces and we did that with the performance against Whitstable.”

Ratti’s double was the main plus point from Chichester, with the former Dover forward finding his feet nicely.

Ashford, who return to league action at Burgess Hill tomorrow, have good options in attack but Ratti is doing everything he can to stay in the side.

“We like him,” said Warrilow. “He’s got that pace, like Johan ter Horst, that us big defenders don’t like.

“There’s nothing worse than when these nippy little forwards turn up who are going to start running at you with the ball.

“That’s what he’s got to do more of. He’s got so much skill, a great left foot and he works so hard.

“It’s all right bombing about everywhere - his work rate is phenomenal - but we want him to channel that and be more constructive with those runs so he’s more direct.

“We’re really pleased with him, he’s settled into the changing room and he’s now chipping in with goals.”

Warrilow, meanwhile, has called for better protection for May following his dismissal at Chichester.

The big striker saw red for a mistimed challenge on a frustrating afternoon.

“He’s an experienced lad, he shouldn’t have done it but, to be fair, he wasn’t getting much out of the referee all afternoon," said Warrilow.

“He was getting climbed all over two seconds before, the ref hasn’t given it and then he’s gone and stuck in a challenge and mistimed it.

“Once you do that, everyone’s round the ref and the red card comes out but Jay’s an honest player, he’s never been a dirty player.

“He doesn’t get much protection from referees.

“They all know him and they think, ‘Oh, he’s all right, he’s a big lad, he’ll get on with it’.

“Even Tuesday night he was getting climbed all over and not getting any decisions.

“I’ve said about it to some of the referees and all you get back is, ‘Well, he’s a big lad, he gives it back’ but that’s missing the point.”