Danny Kedwell believes Ashford United’s gruelling schedule finally caught up with them on Tuesday night.

The Nuts & Bolts lost 3-0 at home to Isthmian South East leaders Beckenham in what was their 20th game already this season.

It came three days on from a big effort at Lewes in the FA Trophy first round where Ashford went down 8-7 on penalties after losing a 2-0 lead in the closing minutes.

They conceded two soft early goals against Beckenham and the visitors added a third in the second half.

Ashford kept going but were out on their feet as their three-game winning run in the league ended at Homelands.

“The amount of games we’ve played is ridiculous,” said boss Kedwell.

“It’s been Saturday-Tuesday every week and it’s going to end up taking it out of you.

“It’s going to catch up with you at some point and I think it did in that first 25 minutes.

“You’re trying to rotate it a little bit just to keep people fresh but it’s very hard to manage that because of the amount of games we’ve played.

“These boys started on August 3 and I think we’ve only had one spare Tuesday since the season started.

“Beckenham had three chances and scored three goals but they were very organised, they had a game plan and it worked so you can’t knock it.

“Their togetherness was brilliant, the way they worked together was magnificent.

“You could see their energy and I said to my assistant (Dean Beckwith) the amount of games we’ve had, it’s going to catch up with us, and it definitely has, but you can’t fault the boys.

“Even at 3-0, we kept going.

“At the time I came out of the game frustrated and angry but the more I thought about it, I think it’s more the amount of games we’ve played that’s the issue, and it isn’t stopping because we’re Saturday-Tuesday all the way through to December 3.”

That said, Ashford will need to defend better in their next two leagues, with sixth-placed Burgess Hill away on Saturday (3pm), followed by title favourites Ramsgate at home on Tuesday (7.45pm).

“We can’t defend like we did against Beckenham,” said Kedwell.

“It’s two easy balls over the top and they’ve scored but the last four games, the three league games and the Trophy game, we’ve been magnificent.

“I’m disappointed it was that easy for Beckenham to score, it just looked too easy to get in behind.

“We still played some good football and had a lot of the ball so it’s disappointing, but it’s something we’ve got to sort out.

“I can’t fault the boys, it’s not their fault, we just can’t defend like that. We can’t be that good for four games and then let that happen like that but that’s football. It’s the ups and downs of the game.”

Ashford looked set to pull off an FA Trophy upset at Isthmian Premier Lewes as Toby Bull’s own goal and a Gary Lockyer strike put them on course for a place in round two.

But an enforced reshuffle, with players out of position after left-back Tolu Jonah went off injured, left them vulnerable and Lewes took advantage.

Shae Hutchinson pulled one back on 80 minutes and Alfie Allen scored an injury-time leveller before the Sussex club advanced on penalties.

Kedwell said: “The performance itself was unbelievable, probably the best we’ve played all season.

“We dominated the whole game up to 80 minutes but Tolu going off left us disjointed, with a right-back at left-back and a winger at right-back, and they capitalised.

“It was frustrating but I couldn’t be any prouder of the team.”

Kedwell is in the market for a full-back with Jonah joining fellow left-back Joey Taylor on the treatment table.

They’re set to be out for a month each.

Kennington slipped to the foot of the Southern Counties East Premier Division after a 4-2 defeat at leaders VCD.

Four down at the break, Adam Phillips and Tom Scorer replied.

Ton meet Holmesdale at Homelands this Saturday (3pm).