AVELEY manager James Webster admits Saturday’s 6-0 victory over Dereham Town was almost a perfect day as his side made a flying start to the Isthmian North season.

Goals from Harry Gibbs, George Doyle, Freddie Gard, Alex Akrofi, Andy Freeman and Tom Richardson made the Millers the early pacesetters in the division.

And Webster said the result at Parkside was a great way to get the season underway.

“It was pretty much a perfect day on the pitch, but we lost a few boys in the warm-up and we were missing some key players,” he said.

“But once the game got started we had guys play brilliantly and those that came into the team staked their claim in the best possible way. There was an opportunity and they took it.

“We got a clean sheet and plenty of goals, which was brilliant. The goals were all over the pitch and we lacked that last year. We were relying on one or two players last year and that was a slight concern. But this was a promising sign.”

There was a controversial moment before half-time when Gard struck into the bottom corner of the net only for the ball to come flying straight out of the net having struck one of the goal supports.

To Aveley’s dismay, the referee ruled the ball had gone wide of the post. And Webster admitted his team’s reaction after that moment was one of a few moments of concern from his perspective.

“We had a bad reaction to a disallowed goal which was disappointing,” he said. “We had people arguing after the ball had gone in and the referee disallowed it and naturally that was very frustrating.

“But we lost our way after that for a five minute spell and we can’t have that. We needed to refocus and we sorted it out at half-time. The injustice spurred them on.

“I was really pleased with Freddie Gard, who had seen his goal disallowed. I told him to get another and he did 10 minutes into the second half as he finished off a nicely worked team goal.”

Aveley are without a match this weekend after their match against Bowers & Pitsea – who are currently undergoing pitch renovations – was postponed.

The Millers play West Essex in a friendly before Monday’s Velocity Trophy match against Hanwell Town at Parkside.

And while Webster admits he would have wanted to play on Saturday, he said his team do not have much longer to wait to return to competitive action.

“After a good result you want to get back out there and reproduce that form but we won’t worry much about that,” he said.

“We will keep the boys focused and we may play a stronger team on Monday as we only have a friendly on Saturday.”

And Webster also brushed off the notion that the 6-0 opening day win had piled the pressure on his talented team.

“I don’t think it has put more pressure on us,” he said. “I wouldn’t have read much into it had we lost the first game, but we need to build on it now.”