Steve Lovell says Ashford Town are starting a new season when they travel to Whyteleafe in Ryman League Division 1 South on Saturday.

The Nuts and Bolts have endured a troubled season with injuries, poor performances and frequent postponements all playing their part as Town slumped to the bottom of the table, six points from safety but with three games in hand.

After just two games in six weeks, Ashford were back in action on Tuesday night with Tom Murphy and Mark Lovell goals setting them on their way to a 2-1 win at VCD in the Kent Senior Cup.

Lovell said: "This has been a strange few weeks but it is nice to be able to talk to the players about a game again.

"Whyteleafe is never an easy place to go. We beat them at home but they have won their last two games and shown an improvement so it will be a tough game but we go there with almost everyone fit."

Several Town first-team players also got a run-out for the reserves against Margate on Wednesday in a bid to gain fitness ahead of the start of Lovell’s ‘new season.’

He said: "The break has seemed like a pre-season and the cup game on Tuesday was a bit like a pre-season friendly.

"This is the start of the season for us. I have told the players they have to forget what’s gone on and start afresh."

With the return of Paul Jones (groin), Joe Fuller (foot) and Scott Chalmers-Stevens (knee) from injury, Toby Ashmore (foot) is the only absentee for Town, although he is expected back in two weeks.