Ashford manager Tommy Warrilow still has Isthmian South East title ambitions this season.

The Nuts & Bolts are 10 points behind leaders Ramsgate after losing 2-1 at Sheppey on Monday, and have also played a game more than the table-toppers.

But Warrilow, whose fifth-placed side occupy the final play-off spot, remains upbeat on Ashford’s championship chances, knowing things can soon change.

They've given themselves a boost by bringing George Nikaj back to Homelands on loan from Dover.

The 19-year-old scored nine goals and provided four assists in his first spell at Ashford earlier this season.

“One thing I will never do is give up on something until it’s mathematically impossible,” said Warrilow. “You’ve always got to think positively.

“I’ve never been a liar or dishonest, I say what I see and if people don’t agree, fine.

“I couldn’t believe how bad we were in the first half at Sheppey. It shocked me. It was unacceptable. But you don’t go into meltdown and say that’s it, we’re not getting promoted. That’s madness.

“If any manager says that when mathematically they’ve still got a chance, they’re shooting themselves in the foot.

“If you genuinely believe that, you might as well call it a day and let someone else have a go.

“I’ve never, ever felt like that in management. You’d never hear that from me. I’m annoyed and frustrated but there’s a long way to go.

“I know from experience how things can change. We went in at Cray when they were loads of points adrift at the bottom of the league.

“Everyone thought they were down but we won the last 10 games and finished in mid-table.”

Ashford, 3-0 winners over Faversham on Boxing Day, started slowly at Sheppey and were fortunate to be level at half-time.

Danny Parish put the visitors in front on the hour but Warren Mfula levelled inside two minutes and Connor Wilkins scored Sheppey’s winner.

It would have been 3-1 but for a late penalty save by Nuts & Bolts keeper Jacob Russell.

“The first half was the worst we’ve played this season,” said Warrilow. “I didn’t see it coming. Our passing and our first touch were horrendous.

“We actually put Sheppey in on goal a few times through our poor first touch.

“The players were expecting me to go mad at half-time but there was no need because they all agreed it wasn’t good enough.

“Second half, we’ve knocked it about, got in some good areas and scored a great goal.

“We then don’t win the ball in midfield and a ball over the top does us straight away for the equaliser. That’s given them a lift and we’ve ended up losing.

“Fair play to Sheppey, they work hard and do what they do well, but you can’t turn up for half a game.

“We’re better than that but we accept the defeat, we’ve got to own it and get on with it. If we pick up three points in the next game, it all changes again.”

Ashford will look to bounce back at home to Burgess Hill on Saturday (3pm), with returning striker Nikaj set to be available.

It’s been a tough period for the Nuts & Bolts, with four defeats in their past six games, but Warrilow firmly believes they’re on track.

“I’m happy with the stability we’ve got now,” he said. “I know I’ve got a good-enough set of lads in there.

“It’s been my most testing season ever with the turnover of players we’ve had.

“There’s been frustration, annoyance, anger, with a bit of jubilation mixed in between.

“I’ll always tell it how it is. We know Monday wasn’t good enough but, I say it again, there’s a long way to go.”