Ashford defender Barry Fuller is facing time on the sidelines - but his replacement was already in the building.

Fuller has a partial fracture in his heel and could be out for anything between six and 12 weeks, although the former Gillingham man is aiming to be back sooner.

Fuller, a right-back by trade, had been moved to centre-half by manager Lloyd Hume before his injury and it was the turn of another full-back, Kane Penn, to slot in there as Ashford progressed in the FA Cup last weekend.

They won 2-0 at Raynes Park Vale, thanks to goals from Harrison Hume and Louis Collins, and have been drawn at home to Chatham in the second qualifying round on September 13.

Penn and assistant manager Craig Stone, making his first appearance of the season, formed a new partnership in central defence with Will Moses (concussion) out, Joe Ellul fit enough only for the bench after an early-season injury and Jack Dixon suspended.

“Kane Penn was absolutely exceptional,” said boss Hume.

“When I said this is what I’m going to do to the management team, they looked at me, shocked.

“I said I see Kane Penn as a version of Barry Fuller.

“Obviously no one can beat Barry Fuller but he’s a version of him and he slipped into Barry’s boots at centre-half.

“Everyone was surprised when I put Barry there and how well he did, and we’ve slipped Kane into Barry’s role and it will be hard to move him out of that role on Saturday.

“I think he’s done the odd 45 at centre-half through an injury but Kane isn’t the biggest, he’s Barry’s size and stature, but he’s a clever footballer and he was one of our outstanding performers on Saturday, and he had the flu.

“Our whole back four - Craig, Kane, Miguel Scarlett and Joey Taylor - were outstanding but so was the whole team.

“It’s hard to pick out individuals but Craig hasn’t had any pre-season, he’s been taking training, but because of how short we were, we had no alternatives.

“One option was playing Harrison back there, because he’s 6ft2in and I know he can do the job, but we didn’t want to disrupt our midfield and that proved valuable with Harrison getting a goal.”

Ashford were good value for their win at Raynes Park Vale, although victory came at a cost as on-loan Gillingham goalkeeper Taite Holtam went off at half-time with an ankle injury after being caught by a poor challenge.

Holtam, who was replaced at the break by Scott Podger-King, was still struggling early this week and looks doubtful for Saturday’s FA Trophy first qualifying round tie at Herne Bay (3pm).

Raynes Park missed a first-half penalty but that was their only genuine chance in the face of a professional Ashford display.

“It was a real battling team performance against a very good footballing side,” said Hume.

“We played what I would describe as the perfect away game.

“We sat in and let them keep the ball in their half, which is what they wanted to do.

“We didn’t chase the game and we got two well-deserved goals.

“We worked very hard as a team for a win.

“Being away from home, keeping a clean sheet is everything for us and that’s a big part of the changes we’re trying to make because that’s what will win us games and get us where we want to be.”

Hume, who this week released midfielder Bruno Tavares, is pleased to have drawn Isthmian Premier Chatham at home in the next round.

A Kent derby against higher-division opposition should draw a good crowd to Homelands.

“What do we want in the next round?” said Hume.

“We either want a local derby where we’re going to get a few fans, or we want an easy route.

“We’ve got the first of the two which is a tie against Chatham who are going to be a very tough nut for us to crack, they’re a very strong side but they’re well-supported.

“It’s a home draw, which I’m grateful for, and it’s a tie that really excites me but it will be a real challenge.

“If they’re at their best and we’re at our best, they should come out on top.

“They’re a league above, they spend a lot of money, they’ve got a lot of very good players, but I’m not frightened of Chatham.

“If we play anywhere near our maximum potential, we could get a result but they will be looking at that tie thinking that’s a good draw for them, because it is.”

Ashford have already made more than £4,800 from this season’s FA Cup run.

There’s another £3,375 on offer against Chatham but Hume, as co-owner, doesn’t count on prize money.

“I’m not silly enough to budget for anything in the FA Cup as part of our plan,” he said.

“We have a target in both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy but as a team, not for the budget.

“The ideal scenario is we reach the third qualifying round, so if we beat Chatham that will get us there, and then anything else is a bonus.

“If we get 700-800 against Chatham, it’ll create an atmosphere and it’ll be a real interesting game.

“But I don’t plan on those things as an owner because I think that’s madness.”