Ashford United boss Tommy Warrilow has called on his charges to carry on their good start to their season as the second placed team in the early BetVictor South East League table look to bounce back from their FA Cup exit last weekend.

Speaking this week to KSN, the Ashford boss reflected on how close his side were to promotion last season and how his new side have carried the momentum into the new season.

He told us, “It went from one extreme to the other at the end of last season with all the changes at the end getting to the Final was nothing to be sniffed at. I thought it was ridiculous to make us play a semi-final on the Monday after playing on the Saturday before we then went to extra time in the Friday Final, and I’ve never heard of playing a Final on a Friday which was ludicrous and mucked up things for everyone!”

“That said, the club as a whole got a great lift and going forward into this year, we’re still finding our feet; we’re going in the right direction, we’re chalking off wins and we know that there are still improvements to be made, but it’s been a good start.”

“We lost nine players from last year – some aren’t doing anything, some went higher – but I’ve been in football long enough not to panic. The budget had been trimmer which everyone knew, but I’m more than happy with the calibre of players that I’ve got in the squad as it suits our budget and the way that I want to play!”

“The start hasn’t surprised me, but I know there’s more to come from them as they’re clever footballers and that’s what I’ve always asked my players – to think about the game – they’re all fit lads now, but if you haven’t got a football brain, you make it a lot, lot harder and the lads that I’ve got are picking up the ideas very quickly.”

“Even on Saturday when we lost three nil to Farnborough, who remember play in a higher league, in the Cup, we should have been out of sight in the first twenty minutes.”

“We could have been four up and that’s not me being disrespectful to Farnborough, but they should have been out of the game. It was the best we’ve played since the start of the season and we found ourselves two nil down and we had to go for it second half which left us a bit open at the back when they could have had a couple more, but we had to try and get back into the game and we also had chances before their third goal and I’m really disappointed that we’re still not in the FA Cup, but all the best to Farnborough in the next round!”

“All our boys have played at the higher level and so the different Leagues weren’t really an issue which I think also shows just how far we’ve come as a club. Coming off the field it really just shows how far the expectations have come at the football club.”

After coming so close last season, Warrilow knows the added pressures his side are likely to face in the coming months.

“Every manager wants promotion at the start of the season, and I don’t think that because we did what we did last year there will be any more pressure,” he said.

“It’s nice and we should want the expectations and play in the big games every week. It’s not pressure, it’s just that if you’re in a League where realism kicks in, then that’s a different type of pressure. We’re in a League where you’ve got a few teams throwing money about, but I think we should be in the mix come the end of the season.”