Ramsgate boss Steve Lovell is getting to the stage where he needs his injured players back.

Rams’ unbeaten start to the season has been achieved against a backdrop of injuries.

It’s testament to the squad that they’re four points clear at the top of Isthmian South East and still to taste defeat.

They were close to a first loss at VCD on Saturday, with Ashley Miller’s penalty salvaging a 2-2 draw after the hosts overturned Jack Paxman’s 25-yard opener.

Ramsgate were missing Josh Ajayi, Jerald Aboagye, Jordan Chiedozie, Callum Peck and Jack Richards, while Leon Redwood was an unused substitute after battling flu all week.

Kane Rowland joined the list of injured players when he went off.

“We’re using our squad to the maximum, which we’re lucky to be able to do,” said Lovell.

“Clubs with smaller squads would be playing their under-18s by now but it’s paying off having a bigger squad at the moment.

“It can be hard carrying a bigger squad at this level because you want to keep everybody happy.

“If you’ve got 22 players, you’re not normally going to keep everybody happy but we’ve been able to where we’ve had so many out.

“People have come in and done a good job and when they do that they stay in the team and the boys coming back will have to wait.

“At the moment it’s working all right but we do need a few back because we’re down to our last 14 players. I haven’t played the same team twice this season, the team that I’d like to play.”

Ramsgate might have taken three points at VCD but Lovell was happy enough with a draw.

“We had two or three really good chances to win the game, which is the only disappointing thing,” he said. “But fair play to VCD, they worked hard and got a deserved point.

“We had at least two chances before the penalty. The keeper’s made a great save from Ashley Miller and Denzelle Olopade has missed a golden opportunity when he’s blazed over.

“TJ Jadama could have won it with a header at the end and we had a goal disallowed that the boys said was clearly over the line.”

A winning goal would have capped a good week for local lad Jadama, who signed a contract before the game.

The midfielder, 23, is a big crowd favourite, having made his debut at 16, and also coaches youngsters at the club.

Lovell, whose side host Sheppey at Southwood this Saturday (3pm), said: “TJ’s an important member of our squad and it was important we got him for the rest of the season.

“He’s a good lad, a good player and he loves it at Ramsgate.

“I can understand that. When you’ve been at a club for a long time and you’ve grown up there, you become very attached to it and all you want to do is play and enjoy your football.

“He’s certainly doing that. The contract is good news for us and for him.”