Croydon Athletic manager Jerry Scola was almost left without a recognised goalkeeper for Saturday's 3-0 loss at Ashford Town.

Number one Gareth Williams signed for Blue Square South side Bromley on Friday, leaving Scola to frantically ring round for a replacement.

He settled on Michael Lidbury, who had played for him when he managed Whyteleafe reserves, but suffered a bad debut as his side were easily brushed aside by Ashford for the Rams fifth defeat in their last seven games.

Scola said: "I'm pleased for Gareth as it pushes him onwards and upwards, but it did leave us with a goalkeeping problem.

"Gareth wasn't on a contract or anything and we have a good relationship with Bromley. They needed a goalkeeper as I think their normal one was injured, so he has gone.

"He has been one of our best players in the last few games but Bromley were after someone.

"We managed to sign Michael on Friday to replace him thankfully and came in and played well."

The Rams were comprehensively beaten by Ashford on Saturday, and had their misery compounded when Enver Hassa was dismissed for saying something to the referee, a decision that perplexed Scola.

He said: "Enver is a meek and mild person and I don't think anybody in the ground knew what it was for. I asked the linesman nearby what it was for and he didn't know.

"Whatever he has said has been said just to the referee. He is not that type of player and it wasn't that type of game. Referee's must get lots of things said to them all the time, so what on earth was special about this I don't know.

"It was always going to be hard to get anything and on the day we were not good enough, although 3-0 flattered Dover.

"When we were 1-0 down Moses Ademola missed an absolutely sitter when through on goal. But instead of side footing the into the net with their keeper out of position, he decided to put the leather through it and skied it about 100 yards over."

Croydon's next game is at home to Leatherhead on Saturday.