Ashford United manager Danny Kedwell knows his injury-hit side will come through their little dip and climb Isthmian South East table

Manager Danny Kedwell is confident Ashford United will soon start climbing the Isthmian South East table.

Kedwell’s injury-hit side lost 3-2 at home to title favourites Ramsgate on Tuesday night.

It was a third successive league defeat, having gone down to 3-0 at home to leaders Beckenham last midweek and 2-1 at high-flying Burgess Hill on Saturday.

Injuries to the likes of top scorer Gary Lockyer, who’s set to miss the next two weeks, haven’t helped, with Joey Taylor, Tolu Jonah and Marley St Louis also still out, although Mikey Berry returned against Ramsgate.

Ashford 17th going into their game at second-bottom Lancing on Saturday (3pm).

That’s followed by a home match against Littlehampton on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Goals from Joe Taylor, Billy Munday and TJ Jadama put Ramsgate in charge at Homelands.

Louis Collins replied in the 88th minute and Mack Reilly scored the hosts’ second deep into added time.

Ramsgate then had goalkeeper Henry Newcombe sent off, with defender Joe Ellul taking the gloves, but there wasn’t time to test him.

“Again, we’ve played really well with a patched-up side,” said Kedwell.

“We’ve got a lot of injuries. Since the Lewes game, we’ve been playing a lot of youngsters.

“It’s been a bit frustrating but it’s good to give these boys opportunities as well.

“When you’ve got five players out injured, who are starters, it’s very tough.

“But we’ve just gone toe-to-toe with teams with much bigger budgets than ours in games they’re expected to win.

“Are we expected to win? No, but we’ve gone toe-to-toe with them with a patched-up squad.

“I said to the boys you’ve got to believe in yourselves because when we’re on it we’re a very good side.

“The boys are giving everything, we just haven’t had that bit of luck.