Ramsgate manager Matt Longhurst on his side's Isthmian South East title chances

Matt Longhurst believes it’s too early to say whether Ramsgate are genuine title contenders.

Rams went second in Isthmian South East after beating promotion rivals Herne Bay 2-0 at Southwood on Saturday.

They are six points behind leaders Hastings, with a game in hand, and visit VCD this weekend.

Boss Longhurst knows his youngsters have a chance but they’re in the mix with some experienced sides.

“It sounds clinched but we’re taking one game at a time,” said Longhurst. “We’re very, very young.

"Obviously people are starting to get excited and there’s a buzz around the club but we’ve got to go to VCD on Saturday, then we’ve got Burgess Hill, who are absolutely flying, and Haywards Heath, who have that bounce from a new boss and are in the top five anyway.

“Ask me after the next three games and we’ll have a much clearer idea of where we're at.

“Have we got the same chance as everybody else?

“Probably, because if you keep getting results and are second in the league, you have to be in with a chance, but there’s such a long way to go and we’re in there with some experienced sides who have been together a long time.”

Lee Prescott scored direct from a corner and Josh Ajayi added the second as Rams completed the double over Bay.

“We were very good on Saturday,” said Longhurst. “Without the ball we were excellent, we based our game on winning the ball back as quickly as we can, and we’ve got players that can score goals.

“That’s six points we’ve taken off Herne Bay and they’re a good side - they will be disappointed if they don’t win the league with the players they’ve got.”

Ajayi’s goal was his first since interest from Tottenham and Stevenage and he looks set to stay at Ramsgate for the rest of the season, having previously