AVELEY were narrowly edged out by top six rivals Bury Town, going down 1-0 in a tight encounter.

The Millers started brightly and debutant Jeremiah Maja sent a header just off target, with Gaz Dauti sending an audacious effort narrowly wide soon after.

Jordan Peart was then denied as Terry Spillane’s men cranked up the pressure against the hosts.

Nick Skelton found the net, only for a team-mate to be flagged offside but it remained goalless at the interval.

Bury were much-improved after the break and defender Tommy Spillane had to be at his best to make a terrific headed clearance and get the scores level.

Jack Edwards combined neatly with Peart in the final 15 minutes but the latter’s effort was tame and was comfortably fielded in the end.

And then Bury took the lead against the run of play.

With just seven minutes remaining, Sam Reed smashed the ball at goal and followed a number of deflections the ball got the better of goalkeeper Lamar Johnson.

Aveley continued to press to search for what would have been a deserved equaliser and it looked as though it had arrived in the closing stages of the match.

The ball beat the goalkeeper and found the net but another offside decision was given, to the visitors’ despair, and Bury earned all three points with the Millers going home empty-handed.