Aveley vs AFC Sudbury (From Thurrock Gazette)

9:44pm

Well that was an excellent last 10 minutes from Millers. It was crying out for a finish like that as we peered out into the fog, toes growing ever colder.

But inspired sub Petrit Elbi and resilience from Millers as Sudbury looked to shut out the game, see Aveley win their 6th game on the bounce, 5th in the league.

The fourth goal was the pick of the bunch, but Sudbury were poor. A collapse was almost inevitable once Millers found that second goal.

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9:36pm

Four minutes added on, of which at least two have now been played.

9:35pm

Junior Appiah blasted down the right, showing blistering pace. His cross to the back post was taken down beautiully by Elbi, who smashed the ball into the bottom right corner.

Goal of the game. Super stuff from Millers.

These boys really are title contenders.

9:31pm

Sudbury sub now. Bradley Thomas is replaced by Taylor Sinfield.

9:30pm

Aveley made a change after scoring the second. Paul Burnett was replaced by Ellis Sands.

9:28pm

If there was going to be a winner, it would only be Aveley. Sudbury have been so poor going forward. But this pacey Millers side has had the potential to threaten, and two quick goals have won the game for Millers here.

I honestly don't think i'm speaking too soon either. Sudbury have had three efforts on goal, and hit the target once.

9:26pm

Well that seals it! A great solo effort by Oakley, as he battled to win the ball on the left of the box, wriggled his way into the box towards goal and planted it into the bottom corner across the keeper.

9:25pm

GOAL! AVELEY 3 - 1 Sudbury - Shane Oakley 81'

9:24pm

Finally! Something to warm the fans. It's sub Petrit Elbi. Some good football from Aveley saw the ball wind up on the right. Rose crossed, Elbi got up and hit the post, Holland won the ball back, laid it into Elbi who couldn't miss!

9:18pm

Half chance for Sudbury and it's close to a goal as they've come since scoring an age ago. Lee Boylan slipped away from Wilson, but his shot, as he ran in the direction of the corner flag spins well wide.

9:17pm

Bradley Thomas, booked earlier, is lucky to still be on the pitch. He caught Burnett in the face as they both went up for a header. He's warned by the referee though!

Petri comes on for Cox then.

9:15pm

Elbi Petri preparing to come on for Millers. He could add some impetus. Cox, his likely replacement, heads tamely into Howe's arms.

9:14pm

Ambitious strike by Appiah as he collects a cleared corner 35 yards from goal. To be fair though, it's not a bad effort and Howe had to keep an eye on it.

9:10pm

It's growing colder and foggier at Millfield and the football's been very disappointing in the second half. Both sides are squandering possession. There have been no chances for a while.

The poor quality is epitomised as Ronnie Martin loses the ball, Cox wins it, then loses it straight away, before Bradley Thomas throws himself into a challenge and earns a booking.

9:04pm

Aveley sub:

Junior Dadson is replaced by Shane Oakley.

9:03pm

Superb, rasping effort from Dadson, 30 yards out. It's tipped over the bar by Howe.

9:02pm

Gardner and his assistant Victor Renner look to be pondering changes. Aveley lacking that final ball at the moment. But this quite dismal Sudbury side are so poor going forward that Aveley might only need one good pass and one cool finish to win this.

9:00pm

Mix up between Cox and Dadson, as Cox wins the ball, puts it wide to Dadson, but Dason tries to return the ball too quickly, over hitting his pass into the box.

8:55pm

Smashing ball from Marcus Rose, a long raking50 yard pass that's superbly controlled by Cox. He has only the keeper to beat, but snaps at his shot and the keeper saves.

8:53pm

First real chance for Aveley falls to Dadson. The ball is laid off to him by Appiah, but he slips as he shoots from just inside the box, sending the ball high over the bar.

8:50pm

A relatively tame start to the half. Sudbury have seen most of the ball but as in the first half, look completely unable to create an opening.

8:46pm

They're closely followed by Sudbury. We're about ready!

8:45pm

Aveley are coming out for the second half!

8:37pm

Good half here in Aveley. Millers have been good, bar a five minute lull soon after scoring.

They've had a couple of changes and Sudbury are certainly struggling to keep up with the break neck speed at which Aveley play.

Paul Burnett gave Millers the lead after 8 minutes, but Leon Antoine, who later went off injured, equalised four minutes later.

8:31pm

Sudbury fail to deal with a corner. Leader pokes the ball towards goal as it falls to him at the near post, but it's headed off the line!

8:29pm

Nice again from Millers as Dadson this time works an opening, before shooting low from the edge of the box. Howe spills it and it's then half cleared, but only as far as Appiah who fizzes an awkward cross-come-shot wide.

8:27pm

That's better from Millers, as they work the throw in well. Danny Hopkins exchanges a smart one-two with Junior Appiah on the edge of the box before shooting just wide. Lovely play to work the first opening in a while, though.

8:25pm

Justin Gardner has just shouted to his players: "Where's the urgency? Do we want it or not?" As another long ball goes astray...

8:24pm

Been very few chances in the last ten minutes. Both sides probing but both have also closed down the space.

The game was very open to begin with but it's become much tighter in the last 20 minutes or so.

8:22pm

Paul Burnett fires over from range after skipping round one challenge.

Cox blowing hot and cold. Made some poor touches, but in setting Burnett up, his control and lay off with back to goal was exquisite.

8:19pm

Some good pressure from Sudbury now. Aveley winning the ball occasionally, but failing to clear as Sudbury ping the ball around - in hope - just inside the Aveley half.

But Aveley survive.

8:16pm

Paul Burnett gets a booking now for a late challenge on Bradley Thomas. There was a horrible noise as the two collided, either slapping skin or colliding bone. Either way, it wasn't nice. Burnett booked, and Thomas hobbling on.

8:15pm

Sudbury making a change now. The injured Leon Antoine is going to be replaced by Danny Charge.

Last time this boy was in Thurrock (against Tilbury) he was impressive.

8:13pm

Aveley just struggling to pick out their targets with balls into the box, as Paul Burnett sends a cross high over Cox.

8:11pm

Aveley only seem to play one way - at full throttle. It's a high risk, go in fast for everything kind of style. When it pays off it's superb, but because it's so risky, occasionally they lose out. As Alfred Kamara just lost out charging at a loose ball on the right, with Ronnie Martin nicking in just ahead of him.

Game's wide open and very exciting!

8:09pm

Great chance missed by Appiah now! Holland persisted in the box, the ball spurned loose to Appiah, in the centre of the goal and 8 yards out, but going the other way to the ball, the keeper saved with his feet!

8:08pm

Since then, Junior Appiah as offered Jordan Cox the best chance of the game, collecting the ball down the right, charging towards the box, and crossing. If Cox had elected to use his head, Aveley would be 2-1 up. Instead, he attempted a bizarre kung-fu kick at the back post, missing the ball altogether.

Aveley well on top at the moment though!

8:06pm

I apologise, my internet connection is as miserly as the weather!

What have you missed?

Well it's 1-1!

Burnett fired in a volley from 10 yards after collecting Kamara's cross on his chest in the 8th minute.

Four minutes later, Leon Antoine equalised for Sudbury, heading in from a corner, which Gardner was extremely unhappy was given in the first place!

7:52pm

Chance for Dadson, as he cuts into the box from the left. His low shot is saved at the near post.

The ball goes behind for a corner, which Cox heads into Howe's arms.

7:49pm

Early break down the right for Jordan Cox, with Burnett screaming for it in the middle.

But Cox' ball in is poor, going behind everyone charging into the box.

7:48pm

Aveley will go third, above Thurrock rivals Grays Athletic if they win tonight. It will be their fifth win on the bounce!

7:46pm

The only change to the Aveley side from their 4-1 win at Ware on Saturday is Paul Burnett in for Rashid Kamara. He's out for personal reasons.

Gardner has called it "a blow" to the side.

But we're about set here!

Aveley in their all blue strip and Sudbury all in red!

7:37pm

Teams then:

Aveley:

Worstor; Rose, Kamara, Leader, Wilson; Hopkins, Dadson, Holland, Appiah; Cox, Burnett

Subs: Elbi, Oakley, Querry, Sands, Sonusa

AFC Sudbury:

Howe; Dalby, Martin, Shinn, Shipton; Thomas, Brown, Pond, Fergus; Antoine, Boylan.

Subs: Cowley, Sinfield, Charge, Webb.

7:32pm

It really does feel like winter today. But then again, it's felt like winter since, well, last October.

We've had it all in Thurrock today, fog, rain. But it hasn't prevented this Ryman Division One North clash.

And in all truth, it's going to take some stopping this Aveley side at the moment.

They're on fire. And today, it's AFC Sudbury who try to stop Justin Gardner's juggernaut, as it ploughs towards the top of the Ryman North league.