AVELEY suffered their fourth home defeat since moving to Parkside after being beaten 3-1 by Waltham Abbey.

Billy Coyne converted a late penalty for the Millers, but it proved too late for a comeback.

The visitors took the lead after 16 minutes as Christian Assombalonga latched onto a ball forward and poked past the onrushing Aveley goalkeeper Rhys Madden.

Jeremiah Maja came close to getting the hosts back on level terms just before the half hour mark, but Waltham Abbey goalkeeper Lewis Lockyer pulled off an impressive save.

And the away side were to make the most of that missed opportunity as Shad Ngandu nodded in Waltham Abbey's second at the back post on 33 minutes.

Aveley felt they should have been awarded a penalty just before half-time as Jordan Peart was pulled down by Ben Glasgow.

But the referee instead gave a free kick, which came to nothing.

Maja was thwarted by Lockyer once again soon after the break, while substitute Coyne hit the post with a 25 yard strike.

Just moments later, Waltham Abbey put the game out of Aveley's reach.

The Millers lost the ball on the halfway line, before Daniel Rimmell ran and finished well at Madden's near post to give the visitors a three goal advantage with just 12 minutes to play.

Aveley were able to notch a consolation goal three minutes before full time.

Harry Cook was bundled over in the penalty area by Eli Benoit, leaving Coyne to step up and send Lockyer the wrong way.

Former Aveley midfielder Petrit Elbi was shown a straight red card in stoppage time after appearing to kick out at Michael Osei.

But the dismissal came too late to help Aveley complete an unlikely comeback.

The defeat leaves Terry Spillane's charges 16th in the Isthmian North standings.

Aveley: Madden, Dicks (West 72'), Woodward, Gleed, Twumasi, Barry, Maja (Bolle 51'), Osei, Watson, Cook, Peart (Coyne 70')