Millers' march goes on at Arlesey

AVELEY continued with their recent run of good Ryman Division One North form by dispatching Arlesey with ease. A goal in the first half from Bradley Barnes and two late strikes from substitute Ainsley Gasper was enough to give the Millers their first ever win at the Chateau Roux stadium.

Resting both Ben Bradbury and Ryan Doyle allowed starts for Glen Golby and Kye Ruel. They seized the opportunity by playing well and have staked their claims for a regular first team spot.

Gasper, out of the side with injury recently, returned to form and proved his worth to manager Rod Stringer, who will have a delightful problem with his starting line up for the next game at home to Northwood.

The uneven pitch and glaring sunshine helped neither side with the first half being a rather quiet affair, with little goalmouth action.

But it was Millers that were to make the most of their chances, going into the break with the advantage.

Arlesey, who bear much resemblance to the early season Waltham Forest side, had the first opportunity on goal. Idemudia Okojie, once on Millers' books but never making the team, took advantage of Glen Golby missing the ball, weaving his way into the box, but producing a weak shot straight at keeper Adam Rafis.

In front of goal Millers looked the more threatening and almost took the lead when skipper John Maskell's long free kick was flicked on by Golby and Leli Bajada flicked the ball goal wards but the effort fell onto the roof of the net.

But Aveley did not have to wait much longer before they broke the deadlock and it was almost a carbon copy of the chance before. Maskell's long free kick from the left was flicked on by Golby to Barnes, who turned his marker and shot across goal into the net past home keeper Jake Whincup.

If anyone was to make the difference for the home side it was player/manager Danny Honeyball. The defender forced Rafis to tip over an on target free kick from the left and then shot well over when well placed.

The second half started like the first with not much between the two sides and Arlesey were trying to get themselves back into the match and former Grays and Peterborough striker Lloyd Opara forced Rafis to push his shot out for a corner.

Then, within a matter of minutes, the game turned on its head. Arlesey first had a chance to draw level when in the 70th minute Shane Brown pumped the ball into box from a free kick with Aveley just clearing the danger for a corner. From the resulting cross Ryan Oliva's header goal wards was saved Rafis.

Only a minute later Aveley punished Arlesey for their lack of potency in front of goal, when Wayne Vaughan's pinpoint ball out to Barnes allowed the winger to force his way inside and he popped a ball across to substitute Gasper, only on the pitch for three minutes. He tapped in from close range to give the Millers' the ascendancy.

It was now or never for the home side and they almost forced their way back into the match but the Millers' had to be thankful for Golby clearing an effort off the line.

But with a quarter of an hour to go, Aveley started controlling the match and were passing fluidly and looked to have things under control.

A result of this saw a good football played around the Millers' midfield, resulting in Garry Skerritt's header going just wide of the target.

In pushing forward to try and get back into the game Arlesey created half chances but wasted them. Opara headed straight into the arms of Rafis from Brown's long ball.

But from that save Rafis launched the ball forward and Gasper raced onto the ball and produced a superb finish past the oncoming Whincup to confirm the result and the Millers' dominance.

Rafis was forced into one final save when he expertly saved Okojie's effort and the Millers kept their recent run of good form going. They have only conceded one goal in four games, with that being a penalty and scoring three goals for the third time in succession, things look bright for Aveley.

Speaking after the game, Stringer said: "The first half was a bit of a leveller. I think we deserved to be in front at half time but it wasn't a great display.

"We needed to have a bit more composure in the second half and get down and play which we done as best we could in these conditions. In the end I think three nil was a fair result and the three points was thoroughly deserved."

Talking about the selection problems he now has after Gasper's performance off the bench he said: "They are good problems to have as a manager. We have rested Ryan Doyle and Ben Bradbury today and that gives us two first team players. Gasper has come off the bench and scored two great goals.

"All we are looking to do is have Northwood come to us with the same thing in the back of my mind, needing three points. I let everyone else worry about the play offs.

"All we do is just week to week, try and pick up three points. If someone tells me at the end of the season we have made the play offs then great but I am certainly not looking to get carried away.

"We have still got a lot of hard games and I respect everybody in this league. They're going to make things tough for you. The last three games we have had three wins on the bounce and thoroughly deserved. Hopefully we'll give Northwood a good game as well."

Certainly things look a lot brighter since the arrival of Stringer. He has only lost two games so far, both away and have made Mill Field a fortress, rising from worrying about relegation to a possible play off place.

Aveley: Adam Rafis, Sam Holloway, John Maskell, Glen Golby, Sean Francis, Nicky Wettner (Shaz Ahmed 79), Kye Ruel, Garry Skerritt, Wayne Vaughan (Tom Poole 82), Leli Bajada (Ainsley Gasper 68), Bradley Barnes. Subs not used: Ryan Doyle, Richard Oxby.

Ryman Division One North

  P W D L F A +/- Pts 1 Dartford 29 18 6 5 79 35 +44 60 2 AFC Sudbury 28 16 7 5 65 26 +39 55 3 Ware 28 16 7 5 76 41 +35 55 4 Edgware Town 30 14 13 3 38 17 +21 55 5 Enfield Town 30 15 6 9 51 43 +8 51 6 Redbridge (-1) 27 14 8 5 43 29 +14 49 7 Maldon Town 29 14 7 8 50 39 +11 49 8 Canvey Island 27 13 8 6 55 30 +25 47 9 Brentwood Town 27 13 8 6 49 34 +15 47 10 Aveley 30 13 7 10 44 53 -9 46 11 Great Wakering Rovers 30 11 8 11 48 42 +6 41 12 Bury Town 26 11 7 8 46 37 +9 40 13 Northwood 28 10 9 9 50 49 +1 39 14 Arlesey Town 28 8 9 11 48 51 -3 33 15 Waltham Abbey 26 8 7 11 29 47 -18 31 16 Wingate & Finchley 28 7 8 13 33 46 -13 29 17 Potters Bar Town 29 8 5 16 36 57 -21 29 18 Witham Town 27 8 4 15 49 71 -22 28 19 Waltham Forest 29 4 10 15 31 54 -23 22 20 Tilbury 27 3 10 14 33 57 -24 19 21 Ilford 30 3 5 22 28 79 -51 14 22 Wivenhoe Town 27 2 3 22 21 65 -44 9