Paul Chambers has praised defender Luke Cuthbert for playing through the pain barrier.

The 29-year-old left-back answered the Ashford boss’ call to play in the Southern Counties East League match against Croydon at Homelands on Saturday, which United won 4-0.

Chambers said: “Luke has been troubled by an ankle problem in the last couple of games.

“We were without six or seven players for different reasons last week, and short on numbers, so I needed him to play. He is a top man for me and deserves a lot of credit.”

Cuthbert and younger brother Adam are the latest United players to complete 100 appearances for the club. They join fellow centurions, Liam Whiting, Tom Scorer and Joe Mant, with Gary Mickelborough (98) next on the Homelands roll of honour.

Meanwhile, top scorer Stuart Zanone has been credited with a hat-trick in United's 4-0 Southern Counties East League win against Croydon on Saturday.

The fourth was originally given as an own-goal, but Chambers confirmed this week, that Zanone was being credited with it, his third trebel of the season, taking his tally to 27 in 21 games

United (fifth) face Greenwich Borough (seventh) at Princes Park, Dartford, on Saturday, and are at home to third placed Corinthian next Tuesday (7.45pm).