Steve Lovell saw another side to Ramsgate as they returned to the top of Isthmian South East.

They moved back above Chatham and Ashford thanks to TJ Jadama’s goal in a 1-0 win at Burgess Hill on Saturday.

Rams ground out a result in appalling conditions, a good quality to have at this time of year as the weather turns and away pitches deteriorate.

“It’s nice to be top again but it’s a long old season,” said boss Lovell.

“We’ve won games this season where we’ve played good football but on Saturday it was about digging deep, especially in the second half battling against the elements.

“The conditions were atrocious. We couldn’t get out of our half against the gale and the rain and the slope and everything, but we’ve dug in and got the points.

“I knew the players had it in them as individuals to do it, it was whether collectively we could stay compact and work as a unit.

“I changed the system for the second half and went 4-4-2 to try and nullify their pace in wide areas, and it worked.

“They asked a lot of questions but we defended our box well. I don’t know think Josh Bexon had a shot to save.

“You’ve got to win ugly sometimes, you’ve got to roll your sleeves up and get the points, it doesn’t matter how they come.

"If we’d drawn or lost I’d have been disappointed because the boys put in such a good shift and we scored a really good goal with the only bit of quality in the game.”

There were more positives for Rams, with Josh Ajayi and Jack Richards back in the starting XI after hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, while Jerald Aboagye was on the bench after two months out.

It’s just what Lovell need as Rams approach a busy period in the season.

“It was good to see them back, and I thought Jahmal Howlett-Mundle did well coming in at centre-half alongside Jamie Coyle," said Lovell.

“Josh has had this hamstring injury that he hadn’t fully recovered from but he came in and put a proper shift in.

“We thought we’d give him a go in not the best conditions for him or any forward, and he did well.

“It was Jack Richards’ first game for a long time.

“He’s been unlucky with injuries but he’s definitely a talent.

“He needs to get fitter, and he knows that, but when he’s firing on all cylinders he’ll be great for us.

“He said he felt good after the game, a bit tired and a bit achy, but that’s understandable in those conditions.”

Lovell revealed last week he was looking to add to his squad.

He’s making progress and could have new faces on board in time for this Saturday’s home game against Three Bridges.

“There might be something happening this week,” said Lovell.

“I’ve talked to a couple of clubs about players and they’re going to get back to me.

“We’re hopeful we might have one or two in by the end of the week.”

Deals aren’t always easy to get done, particularly in forward areas, with Rams having to bide their time.

Lovell said: “The ones under contract are mainly the forwards.

“The people who score goals, clubs try to look after them because they’re like gold-dust.

“If we’ve tried to get a forward since the summer, you either find they’re under contract or when we approach a club, they put them under contract."