Ten men Millers extend lead at top of the table (From Thurrock Gazette)

Ten men Millers extend lead at top of the table

8:09pm Saturday 3rd January 2009

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Thamesmead Town 0, Aveley 2
AVELEY made the best possible start to what they hope will be a promotion-clinching second half of the season with this hard fought victory over Thamesmead when, despite playing the second half with only ten men, they extended their lead at the top of the Ryman Division One North to five points.

Aveley were without holidaying skipper John Maskell and Christian Wheeler, meaning Paul White got a rare start and Wayne Vaughan was recalled to the starting line up in place of Joe Sweeney. New signing Richard Ketchell, a centre half from Billericay had to settle for a place on the bench.

In a game lucky to be on as many grounds succumbed to the post-Christmas cold, there was little and the weather-hardened pitch dictated the play.

Vaughan provided the first real action of the game, striking a free kick from just outside the area just wide.

Recent Thamesmead signing Byron Walker proved lively for the hosts and had Aveley keeper James Marrable stretching but the effort proved to be just too high and fell the wrong side of the bar.

It wasn’t happening for either side, who were both playing it well into and around the area but lacked the decisive touch to create any opportunities.

The best chance of the first half was to fall to pacy winger Junior Dadson. Vaughan’s clever flick found the former Potters Bar man with time on his hands on the edge of the area but he shot well over the bar when he really should have done a lot better.

Dead ball situations looked the likeliest to break the deadlock and Joao Carlos’ inswinging corner from the left found White at the back post but his header lacked direction and went over the bar.

Just before half time Elbi made his last, unwanted contribution. After earning a free kick the Albanian striker went in after the whistle on Mead’s Danny Moore and the referee had no alternative but to send him off.

Elbi was one of the five sent off by the same referee in the game against Great Wakering, and, while he had little option over Elbi’s actions, the official again proved himself the centre of attention, never letting the game flow and deciding to pull play back at almost every occasion.

Millers boss Rod Stringer must have had strong words at half time with his side, as the difference in performance was clear. With the first chance of the second half Aveley broke the deadlock.

A good flowing move saw Sam Holloway on a surging run from left back and he provided a pin point ball to an unmarked Vaughan in the box, who dispatched an excellent finish past Tony Kessell in the Mead goal.

That provided the Millers with the spark they needed and despite being a man light, they dominated with Thamesmead, who were lacking in ideas, looking like the team with ten men.

The decisive second goal was well earned, summing up the determination and never say die attitude of the visitors. Nicky Wettner chased a ball he never looked likely to win but he somehow managed to keep it in and earned a corner.

The resulting cross was only half cleared, falling to Garry Skerritt, whose ball in was missed by the defence and fell to the unmarked Ryan Doyle. With many of the Thamesmead side appealing for offside he duly thumped the ball into the net.

Thamesmead looked devoid of any ideas up front creating very few chances, but when they did they found Marrable and the back four on top form and Ketchell came on for the injured White and looked solid for the final 20 minutes.

Mead substitute Chris Burchescu fired an effort straight at Marrable which the keeper saved and then gathered at the second attempt. And in time added on he pushed out a dangerously looking inswinging corner from Burchescu to safe guard the three points.

Aveley: James Marrable, Ryan Doyle, Sam Holloway, Garry Skerritt, Paul White (Richard Ketchell 69), Glen Golby, Junior Dadson, Nicky Wettner (Matthew Johnson 87), Petrit Elbi, Wayne Vaughan (Sean Thomas 76), Joao Carlos. Subs not used: Joe Sweeney, Marc Palmer (GK).

• Weather permitting, Aveley will be back in action on Monday evening, playing host to high-flying and well-supported Ryman Premier League side Dover in the League Cup.

Ryman League Division One North, up to and inc Sat, Jan 3

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Aveley	23	15	7	1	49	21	+28	52
2	Brentwood Town	22	14	5	3	42	19	+23	47
3	East Thurrock United	22	15	2	5	48	29	+19	47
4	Waltham Abbey	22	14	4	4	52	22	+30	46
5	Northwood	24	13	5	6	39	26	+13	44
6	Ware	24	14	2	8	47	37	+10	44
7	Concord Rangers	24	12	6	6	44	21	+23	42
8	Wingate & Finchley	20	11	7	2	41	21	+20	40
9	Tilbury	25	10	5	10	41	36	+5	35
10	Redbridge	21	9	6	6	38	23	+15	33
11	Cheshunt	20	10	2	8	31	26	+5	32
12	Leyton	23	8	5	10	34	31	+3	29
13	Great Wakering Rovers	24	8	5	11	32	40	-8	29
14	Enfield Town	20	8	4	8	43	40	+3	28
15	Potters Bar Town (-1)	23	7	6	10	30	33	-3	26
16	Maldon Town (-3)	21	8	4	9	27	33	-6	25
17	Thamesmead Town	24	6	6	12	27	43	-16	24
18	Chatham Town	23	6	2	15	23	41	-18	20
19	Ilford	22	5	1	16	12	47	-35	16
20	Witham Town	20	3	4	13	24	56	-32	13
21	Waltham Forest	23	3	3	17	19	50	-31	12
22	Hillingdon Borough	24	2	1	21	20	68	-48	7

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