Aveley 1

Dereham Town 3

A TIRED looking Aveley were unable to build on Thursday night’s win over Soham, falling to a 3-1 defeat to Dereham Town at Mill Field on Saturday. Having played less than 48 hours beforehand, two errors in the second half – which Aveley boss, Justin Gardner put down to “tired legs” – allowed Shaun Bammant to score the two goals that won the match for the Magpies. That was after Gardner’s side had taken the lead when Thursday’s match winner, Lee Weemes prodded in after just three minutes to put the home side in front. Dereham then scored a controversial equaliser.

Bammant’s cross was turned into his own net by Jay Leader, with Gardner furious that the referee didn’t award a free kick for Bammant’s apparent use of the arm in the build-up to the controversial goal. Gardner’s temperature was close to boiling point when the referee then awarded Dereham a penalty for a foul on Bammant by Adetayo Osifuwa. But debutant Stevie Sutton saved Luke Tuttle’s spot kick to send the sides in level at the break. With chances few and far between, Dereham capitalised on two defensive errors – the first coming from Glen Golby who failed to clear.

This allowed Bammant to slot home with the second goal coming when Paul Burnett’s pass was telegraphed by Tuttle and Dereham again capitalised to win 3-1.

For borough football see Thursday's THURROCK GAZETTE