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Ashford Victoria manager Ryan Mills was over the moon to get the new season off to a winning start as his side saw off a spirited Bliby Reserves side with a 4-2 victory at Courtside on Sunday morning. The Vics recovered from going behind midway through the first-half to take control of the game thanks to a double from Matt Deeble and further strikes from Andy Jones and Shane Jupp.

"I thought the boys responded really well after last weeks wake up call against Prince Albert. We have had a good pre-season but didn't look ourselves in last weeks final friendly fixture, but the lads looked a lot more hungrier today and we've got off to a very good start" announced Mills.

"We just did the simple stuff first, easy ball to feet football and nothing silly, and then let the forwards be creative and do their own thing and we came away with the win we deserved. I picked what I considered to be my strongest side on the morning in terms of form and fitness, and I think my selection was proved right as we got all three points".

Mills admitted it was hard to leave out some players this morning, but those who found themselves out of the starting eleven will get their chance over the next few weeks to prove themselves.

"I made quite a few changes from last week, and I think we needed to really as we were all over the place seven days ago. The players who did miss out this week shouldn't take it personally though as it was a tactical change for the team rather than the dropping of individuals, and the five boys who didn't start will get a chance soon to show me they deserve a first team place" added Mills.

"I thought Sam Burgess played very well last week and was unlucky to miss out today, while young Luke Stafford has had a great pre-season but I thought Luke Hendry deserved to start at right-back instead. Also Banksy has been banging in the goals all summer, but we've not managed to find him a role in the 4-3-3 formation as yet, and he knows how much I rate him as a forward and will get games this season once he settles in".

"All the boys should realise it's a squad game and everyone, playing or not, were winners today. It will be interesting to see how certain players react to being on the bench over the next few weeks, and hopefully people will be willing to fight for their places and make the team selection more competitive" said Mills.

Of the players who did start the game, Mills admitted it was hard to single out an individual star performer and the win should be dedicated to an excellent team performance.

"Andy Jones deservedly won the man of the match award, but it was a real gutsy team performance today. The defence were excellent, Big Wayne Cleave and Tony Mason made an awesome central defensive partnership, while Juppo was brilliant to watch from the sidelines and was a pest to the Bliby defence all game long".

"Deeble just gets better and better and I think it's fantastic how much his new team mates rave on about him, he has been a different class since he joined last month, while Danny Bushell and Gary Foreman also put in selfless shifts in the midfield once again. Overall, I'm delighted with the performance and the result, but we must make sure that we don't get too carried away now as there are still 17 league games to go this season" added Mills.

Next up for Victoria are Ashford Eagles as the Vics travel to take on the relegated former Division Two side in Smeeth next Sunday. Mills is expecting long serving defender Ryan Martin to return to the squad and has hinted that he may give Jack Bundock a run out after the clubs record scorer missed out against Bliby. But Victoria will have to do without Joey Mort for the next two weeks due to work commitments.