Steve Lovell described Cray Valley as the best side Ramsgate have played this season after the Isthmian South East leaders suffered a 2-0 defeat.

Lovell’s men were beaten by second-half goals from Ali Tumkaya and Barney Williams at Badgers on Saturday, with hopes of getting back into the game dashed when Ollie Bate had an effort disallowed.

The third-placed Millers are 11 games unbeaten and Rams boss Lovell makes them genuine title contenders.

“They’re a good side - most probably the best side we’ve played this season,” he said.

“We didn’t play as well as we could have done.

“We conceded two goals from set-plays, which isn’t like us, and we weren’t really at it on the ball.

“If anyone deserved to win the game, it was them.

“They’ve got some really decent players and a strong squad.

“We needed to be at our best if we were going to win there. Fair play to them.

“Going on that performance, they’re definitely title contenders.

“They're up there with the rest of the sides. You can probably go halfway down the league - they’re all in contention for those top five places.

“It’s a tough league. People are spending money on quality players and it’s good for the league.”

Cray Valley keeper Chris Lewington made a couple of decent first-half saves in the wind and rain.

Kane Rowland sent a second-half header over and Nathan Wood was denied by Lewington, while Lovell was bemused by Bate’s disallowed strike.

“It was a great goal,” said Lovell. “It’s a foul on Ollie and the referee has blown for a free-kick as he’s struck the ball in the top corner.

“If he’d just waited a second, he could have played the advantage and the goal would have counted. I’ve seen some referees but this fella was unbelievable.”

Ramsgate, who go to Beckenham tonight, take on Lovell’s former club Sittingbourne at Southwood this Saturday (3pm).

The struggling Brickies have a new manager, with ex-Braintree boss Ryan Maxwell succeeding Nick Davis, who left by mutual consent last week.

“It’ll be interesting,” said Lovell. “He’ll most likely bring a few new players in.

“That’s the thing at this level, teams change from week to week - you never know what you’re going to be up against.

“A lot of the Sittingbourne supporters know me from years gone by. I loved my time there, especially when we had the big stadium at Central Park.

“It was a shame they lost that but the main thing is the club is still going.”