Fans something to cheer about

Manager Jason Whitmore wants Ashford to put on a performance for their supporters in Saturday’s basement battle with Guernsey.

The game at Homelands kicks off at 1pm with the Nuts & Bolts just a point above the Channel Islanders in the lower reaches of Bostik South.

A win for Ashford would lift them into mid-table ahead of the 3pm games but defeat could see them second-bottom by 5pm.

Whitmore said: “We need a win on Saturday, that’s it. It’s massive, no different to the Ramsgate game. Ramsgate were above us so we wanted a result to put them below us.

“Ashford have a fantastic support and we need to repay that support with a good performance and a win.

“Where games of football are won and lost is in each other’s penalty areas.

“Do we defend ours well enough and do we have enough chances to score? They’re the two key areas that we need to work on.

“We don’t strike enough at goal and we still can improve on our defending.”

Michael Phillips, Dave Botterill and Joe Bingham all return for Ashford after being rested for the Velocity Trophy defeat at home to Greenwich on Monday.

Whitmore said: “We could have played Micky but why risk him in a cup game against Greenwich Borough?

“It’s not something we’re in a position to win at the minute, the cup, we’re not strong enough. We’re in transition, so do we want to risk our best players who have got niggles?

“We’re trying to get them back so we’re at full strength so we can have a run in the league and get ourselves up

‘Ashford have a fantastic support and we need to repay that support’

the league, so we’re no longer looking down.

“Our midfield, Dave Botterill, Micky Phillips, Joe Bingham, big senior players in that team, we took out on Monday.

“They are now back in for Saturday against Guernsey and we’ll be a big threat. Guernsey will have to do something pretty special to beat us because I think we’ll be too strong.”

New signing George Humber got 45 minutes on Monday and Whitmore also hopes to have a new centrehalf in his squad for the Guernsey clash.

Ashford are away to Herne Bay on Tuesday (7.45pm).