Aveley 2 Wivenhoe Town 0

AVELEY eased to a fifth win in seven under new manager Rod Stringer with two first half goals proving to be enough to beat Ryman Division One North rivals Wivenhoe Town on Monday evening.

Both sides have recently undergone management changes, and although Wivenhoe are still yet to add to their solitary point, it looks a lot more promising for the visitors then it had been a few months ago.

Millers went straight at the visitors from the off and showed their intent when Ben Bradbury's free kick went narrowly wide of the post.

Aveley did not have to wait much longer before they took the lead. Good build up play between Bradley Barnes and Wayne Vaughan culminated when Bradbury was on hand to shoot past Floyd Croll in the Wivenhoe goal after 11 minutes.

Aveley never let Wivenhoe settle in the early stages and Wayne Vaughan rattled a strike narrowly wide of the goal from distance.

Millers then had a golden opportunity to double their lead when Shaz Ahmed was brought down in the box by Patrick Turley. Ryan Doyle stepped up to take the penalty but his strike came back off the bar.

Doyle was thankful that the Millers were not made to pay for the penalty miss as after 37 minutes a long ball over the top was chased by Vaughan who beat the offside trap to shoot past Croll and into the net.

Wivenhoe's only real first half chance came with a minute to go to the half time break when a searching delivery from Darren Bethell was glanced goalwards by Michael Brothers, but straight into the hands of Adam Rafis.

The second half was a tame affair with Aveley settling for the two goal advantage and the Millers' defence soaking up the little pressure Wivenhoe had to offer.

Millers had the perfect opportunity to add to their lead when Doyle headed down for Vaughan in the box. The striker turned on the ball and shot agonisingly wide of the target.

Wivenhoe had a chance to get themselves back into the game but luck was not favouring them when, with five minutes to go, second half substitute Chris Cowan shot goalwards, only for his shot to be pushed onto the bar by Rafis and somehow not fall into the back of the net and from the rebound, Brothers saw his effort come off the bar.

The Millers' will have gained confidence from this game and will hope to take this into their next match as they host league high-flyers AFC Sudbury, which will be Rod Stringer's toughest test as Aveley manager, and will tell how far the side has come in his reign.

Aveley: Adam Rafis, Sam Holloway, John Maskell, Ryan Doyle, Glen Golby, Shaz Ahmed, Ben Bradbury ( Billy Sendall 83), Christian Wheeler, Ainsley Gasper ( Chris Bullock 71), Wayne Vaughan, Bradley Barnes ( Kye Ruel 80). Subs not used: Jamie Bly, Nicky Wettner.