Ashford assistant manager Tommy Osborne believes consistency is one of the hardest things to achieve in football.

It’s been an issue for the Nuts & Bolts for much of the season, with a real mixed bag of results in Isthmian South East.

They recently ended a run of four defeats by taking seven points from their next three games, including a 3-2 home win over high-flying Three Bridges on Saturday

Ian Draycott scored a last-minute winner, adding to goals from Danny Parish and Vance Bola as Ashford led 1-0 before falling 2-1 behind.

But they stumbled again in midweek, losing 1-0 at Broadbridge Heath, to remain eighth in the table.

“For us this season it’s the consistency that’s let us down a little bit,” said Osborne.

“All the teams that do well find a way to be consistent for nine-and-a-half months of the year and that’s just where we’re falling short at the minute.

“It’s a difficult one. There’s been a few times this season where you think we’re making strides forward and we’re going to get a bit of momentum.

“I think we had a spell where we lost one in eight, or something, and then we lost four on the bounce.

“Our recent form has been good, a couple of wins and a draw, and again you’re thinking can we now get that momentum to try and put pressure on the teams above us?

“But we go to Broadbridge, who were good on the night, and we lost the game. It’s very difficult to put your finger on.

“It’s not like we’ve got a group of lads whose attitude isn’t right. They’ve always trained well and they’ve always got a good attitude, so just it’s something we have to try and rectify in the second half of the season.

“It’s two steps forward and one back at times.

“Including pre-season, to be consistent for 10 months of the year isn’t easy. It’s one of the harder things in football in my opinion but all the teams that go on to do well, they find a way.

“You don’t necessarily have to be the best team or the best players to be consistent - you can do that as a squad.

“You look at teams up and down the country and they might not have the biggest budget but they find a way to have a good season.

“That’s what our aim has to be and we’re just falling short at the minute.

“I feel we’ve got the players that are capable of it but actions speak louder than words.”

Goalkeeper Chris Lewington was unavailable at Broadbridge, with free agent Adam Molloy signed at short notice to play.

Lewington returns at Littlehampton on Saturday, which is followed by the visit of leaders and title favourites Ramsgate on Tuesday night.

On facing the Rams, Osborne said: “You have to go into every game believing you can win it otherwise what’s the point in turning up?

“We know it’s a tall order and a big ask but that’s what we’ll do.”

Ashford United Ladies are out of the League Cup after a 4-1 defeat at Dulwich Hamlet.

Becky Wyatt scored the Nuts & Bolts’ consolation in their third-round defeat at Champion Hill.

They play Sutton United at Homelands in the London & South East Premier Division this Sunday (3.15pm kick-off).