By Joe Harbert

Ashford United striker Jay May hopes the team can go on another vital winning streak in their hunt for promotion success this season.

United, who suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Cray Valley PM at the weekend, remain second in Isthmian South East.

Leaders Hastings hold a six-point advantage following Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw at home to Herne Bay.

However, May believes Ashford’s first defeat in nearly two months was just a brief blow for the Homelands outfit.

“Hopefully Saturday was a one-off,” said the 33-year-old.

“We seemed to have steadied the ship lately at the back and upped the tempo, so that’s why it was so disappointing really.

“We conceded two goals pretty early and from then on it’s always an uphill battle.

“It shows that you’ll get found out in this league if you turn up and you’re not quite at the races, and at the weekend there wasn’t enough of us that did that, so it’s a bitter pill to swallow but not the end of the world.

“We just need to chip away and get chalking off the wins again by going on another good run and then you’ve got half a chance.

“I don’t think you can worry too much about everyone else around you because other teams can drop points like on Saturday, but if you’re not winning it doesn’t make a difference.”

After seeing midfielder Josh Wisson ruled out for more than a month with a broken metatarsal, Ashford also lost right-back Jerald Aboagye to Hastings in the past week.

Yet former Maidstone forward May insists the quality within the Ashford squad in all areas of the pitch will allow them to regain their winning impetus once more.

He added: “Jerald will be a big loss. He’s a very good player and he’s been a part of why we’ve been so good of late.

“But Theo (Osinfolarin) has come in and whenever he’s had a chance he’s done really well.

“His attitude is great in training so hopefully he’ll get a run of games, and we’ve also signed Giorgio Russo from Canterbury who is an out-and-out full-back, so between the two of them we should have that covered.

“I think as a team if we all do our own jobs and perform then we’ll be okay, and even on Saturday if we had been on our game from the start then I think it would have been a different story.”

United will hope to make it eight wins out of nine in the upcoming days when they host bottom side East Grinstead on Saturday, followed by a short trip to Sittingbourne on Tuesday evening.

• Isthmian League latest
• Manager adds more experience
• Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent