Barry Fuller scored the winner on his home debut as Ashford ended a run of four league defeats with a stirring midweek fightback.

The Nuts & Bolts trailed Littlehampton 2-0 after 12 minutes at Homelands on Tuesday night.

James Dunne replied from the penalty spot, Louis Collins levelled midway through the second half and veteran Fuller completed the comeback in the 73rd minute.

The former Gillingham right-back, 40, has joined his hometown club on a month’s loan from Dorking Wanderers.

Fuller and Ashford manager Danny Kedwell played together at Priestfield and have been friends for years.

“He’s a great addition,” said Kedwell.

“I’ve known him a long time, he does a lot of his academy work at Ashford, he’s a local lad, so it just made sense to get him on loan for a month.

“It was good to get him over the line.

“He’s got personality, character, he’s a leader, he’s got everything.

“Hopefully we can have him for longer than a month but you never know with loan players.”

Ashford lost 2-1 at Lancing on Saturday - Gary Lockyer putting them in front on his return from injury - and gave themselves plenty to do on Tuesday night after conceding two poor goals in as many minutes.

But Kedwell fancied them to turn things around and the players delivered.

The wins moves them up a place to 16th in Isthmian South East, with East Grinstead at home next up this Saturday (3pm).

Top scorer Lockyer misses out through suspension after picking up five bookings.

“After the first 10/12 minutes, I was like, ‘Are you joking me?” said Kedwell.

“But I always believed we were going to get back in it for some reason.

“I thought, ‘We aren’t going to lose this game’.

“The boys were proper up for it, and sometimes you just get that feeling.

“We got the first goal back and I was like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to win this’.

“I told the boys at half-time to believe they were going to turn it around.

“I said if you get another goal, you’ll go and win the game.

“You’ve got to be ruthless and, when you get your chances, you’ve got to take them.

“We haven’t been doing that and we’ve been getting punished.

“That’s what it’s been like but I believed the boys would turn things around and they did.

“To be 2-0 down and win 3-2 is brilliant.

“You could see the relief on their faces at the end.

“It hurts them when they lose matches, you can see it.”

As well as Fuller, Ashford have signed midfielder Malachi Morris from Isthmian Premier Lewes.

He made his first start against Littlehampton, having come off the bench at Lancing.

“He’s another good player,” said Kedwell. “He’s got ability.

“It was hard for him to come in and turn it on straight away because he’s got to learn the way we play.

“But, in time, he’ll be a very good addition.”

Ashford have released Theo Osinfolarin and Adem Ramadan.