Midfielder Matt Warren has jumped from mid-table into a title fight by joining Ramsgate from Sevenoaks.

Warren made his debut as a second-half substitute as Rams regained top spot in Isthmian South East at the weekend, playing the final 23 minutes in a 4-0 success over Ashford.

Victory sent Ben Smith’s side two points clear after Cray Valley lost 5-4 to Three Bridges - their first defeat of the season.

Both sides are due in action tonight with Rams away to East Grinstead and the Millers at Hythe.

“It’s an opportunity that came up and caught me by surprise a little bit,” said PE teacher Warren, who has also played for Cray Valley and third-placed Sittingbourne.

“Sevenoaks are a great club, and they looked after me really well, but it’s just that point in the season where Ramsgate have got a really exciting run-in to go and play for the league.

“Ben’s shown a bit of interest before and the timing was right for me to go and have a good go at it for the rest of the season.”

Warren arrives at Southwood with good pedigree, winning both the manager’s player and players’ player-of-the-year award at Sittingbourne last season.

He knows the strength of the Ramsgate squad but isn’t on board to make up the numbers.

“I’d like to think I can get in the starting XI,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to move over and just sit on the bench.

“Obviously it’s a great squad, so it’s competitive, and you’ve got to prove you should be starting week in, week out.

“That’s probably why good teams do well because you can’t rest on your laurels, you’ve got to have a good performance every week or you’re at risk of another really good player coming in. That’s why good teams work.

“There’s plenty of quality all over the place.

“There’s quite a few players that have played at a very good level and had established careers so I’m dying to play alongside some really good quality players.

“Sevenoaks had some very good players as well but coming to Ramsgate is exciting myself.

“They’ve got a great project going. They’re really trying to build the club throughout.

“There were over a thousand fans at the weekend which creates quite an atmosphere and it’s good to play in front of.”

Joe Taylor scored twice against Ashford, with TJ Jadama and Jordan Green also on target.

Taylor’s double moved him on to 38 goals for the season - his best-ever return, with a couple of months still to play.

Rams were 3-0 up when Warren replaced former Maidstone midfielder Jack Paxman.

“The boys were very welcoming,” he said.

“They’re obviously very close and get on well.

“The first 35 minutes were pretty even but as soon as Ramsgate got the first goal we dominated from there, really.

“When I got on, it was about steadying the ship and controlling the game.

“We played some good football, kept the ball well and I enjoyed the 20 minutes I had.”

Ramsgate visit bottom side Beckenham on Saturday (3pm).