Steve Lovell has played down the significance of Ramsgate’s top-of-the-table clash with Ashford.

The sides meet at Southwood this Saturday (3pm), with Isthmian South East leaders Rams a point clear of the second-placed visitors.

Boss Lovell is looking forward to the game and coming up against his old friend Tommy Warrilow in the opposite dugout.

But it’s too early for anyone to get carried away by the outcome.

“I know people will build it up as first versus second but it’s just another game,” said Lovell.

“We’re not even halfway through the season.

“We want to stay top, and three points would make sure of that, but there’s a long way to go.

“It’ll be a good game and I’m looking forward to it. There should be a good crowd in.

“Ashford are a very good side and they’ve made some very good signings.

“I’ve known Tom a long time. He’s doing a good job at Ashford.

“They were unlucky not to go up last season and they’re having a good go for it this season.

“I’m actually looking forward to playing some of the better teams in the league now.

“It’ll be good to see where we’re at and what we need to do.

“There’s an abundance of good players and it’s making it a good league.

“I’ve said from the start it’s going to go to the wire to distinguish who finishes in the top five or six. We’ve got to dig in and get through the winter and see where we’re at.”

Ramsgate go into the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat at Littlehampton on Saturday.

It was a first away defeat in the league for Lovell’s side, coming at a ground where they were also knocked out of the FA Trophy.

Top scorer Ashley Miller was fit enough only for the bench after illness but is set to return against Ashford.

“Littlehampton’s not been the best ground for us - I’m glad I haven’t got to go there again this season,” said Lovell.

“I just don’t like that place. The pitch is awful. It wasn’t conducive to our way of playing.

“We got involved in their way of playing, and we did OK for the most part, but they scored two good goals and got the three points.

“We knew what we were up against.

“It felt like one of those games where if we’d come out with a 0-0, we’d have been happy.

“They deserved the three points. They were chuffed to bits at the end, and good for them. We move on.

“We’re going to have games like that. You can’t play well all the time.

“We just have to make sure it doesn’t happen too many times.

“Next time we go to a ground like that, we’ve got to make sure we come out on top.”