Ashford are assessing their striking options following top scorer Vance Bola’s shock departure.

Eleven-goal Bola has joined Herne Bay after telling manager Kevin Watson he wanted to leave.

That came a couple of weeks ago and on Saturday his name appeared on the Bay teamsheet for their 2-1 home defeat by Isthmian South East play-off rivals Hythe.

“It was a funny one with Vance,” said assistant manager Tommy Osborne, who saw Ashford lose 4-0 at Ramsgate on Saturday, while their midweek game at Horndean was again postponed.

“I thought he was going somewhere else and then that didn’t happen and he’s ended up at Herne Bay.

“Vance wanted to leave the club. We were a bit surprised. We didn’t know that.

“We found out a couple of days after we played Merstham that he wanted to leave and that was it.

“He was having a good season.

“I think he was heading towards his highest tally in a season, he was always happy and good around the dressing room, so it came out of the blue when he spoke to Kev and said he wanted to leave.

“We had no indication of it whatsoever. He was playing every game and scoring goals. We weren’t expecting that call from Vance one little bit.”

Ashford, who host Sittingbourne this Saturday (3pm), have made enquiries about a replacement.

Getting deals over the line is easier said than done, however.

Osborne said: “We have spoken to one or two but there’s nothing concrete at the minute.

“It’s a difficult time of year because it’s that stage where players are probably going to stay with their teams.

“It has left a gap, losing Vance, no doubt about that, and we’ll have to see what we can do.”

Under-18 forward Stanley Oldfield, who’s been on dual-registration at Southern Counties East Division 1 side Staplehurst Monarchs, is set to come into the squad.

He impressed Watson during pre-season and has benefited from playing men’s football elsewhere.

“Stanley trains with us and always does well,” said Osborne.

“He’s a good kid and there’s every chance he might start playing a part from now until the end of the season.

“Obviously you can’t guarantee that but he more than holds his own when he trains with us.

“He’s raw but he’s definitely got something when he plays.”

Ashford were well in their game at Ramsgate, with the match goalless until Joe Taylor struck on 35 minutes.

TJ Jadama and Jordan Green were gifted goals after the break and Taylor added a late fourth as Ashford’s four-game unbeaten run unravelled.

“We went in at half-time and based our team-talk around the fact we were in the game,” said Osborne.

“Neither team created loads of chances in the first half but there wasn’t a lot in it.

“But you concede two goals in five minutes and you go from 1-0 down and being in the game to 3-0 down and it’s done.

“All the goals were our own doing.

“You can always pick holes in goals but they were individual errors.

“We shot ourselves in the foot because in the first half it was such a hardworking performance, with the ball and without it.

“We’ve undone all that hard work within the space of five minutes and that’s where the frustration lies.”

Connor Dymond is back from suspension against third-placed Sittingbourne, while former Nuts & Bolts favourite Danny Parish returns to Homelands with his new club.

Osborne said: “From day one, Sittingbourne have been a really strong outfit.

“I felt they were going to be in the play-offs and pushing for promotion before a ball had been kicked and, to be fair to them, that’s what they’ve done.”