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SUPPORTERS: Aveley's sponsors enjoyed the club's hospitality.

Aveley 3, Enfield Town 1

AVELEY rolled out the hospitality for the sponsors for this afternoon's Ryman Division One North clash and their players turned on the entertainment with a stylish performance against their promotion-chasing visitors.

Town arrived at Mill Field in a play-off position but it was Millers who looked much the better team throughout.

They showed a cutting edge up front but it was at the back where they were most impressive, headed by an impressive first start from centre-back Sean Francis, who was aided and abetted by Ryan Doyle until he went off through injury midway through the second half.

By then the job appeared all but done, but the defensive reshuffle did allow Enfield to seize the late initiative and they caused a few late scares.

However, Aveley held on to record their first ever league win against Town.

Millers made the brighter start and grabbed a lead after just six minutes when Wayne Vaughan's fierce long range drive was only parried by keeper Andre Foster and Leli Bajada was on hand to poach his first goal for the home side.

Bajada was involved in much of the early play and it was from his cross three minutes later that Ben Bradbury almost got a second, but his shot was blocked by Simon Tickner.

Bradbury had another effort blocked soon after and it was no surprise when Aveley's dominance resulted in a second goal on 22 minutes, though Foster won't be happy that he allowed Nicky Wettner's 22 yard drive to slip under his body.

That capped a fine start and John Maskell, who is a prolific goalscorer for a defender, made it a great first half when he shot home of the underside of the crossbar on 35 minutes after good work from Doyle and Bajada.

Millers started the second half in the same vein as the first and they came close to extending their lead when Vaughan chased down a lost cause to force hesitation in the visitors' defence and he nipped in to lob the ball over Foster only to see it hit the crossbar.

The extent of Aveley's defensive resolve was shown a minute later when Enfield pressure created three shooting opportunities in quick succession but each time a Miller was on hand to put his body on the line with a fine block. It was defending of the highest order and provoked widespread approval around the ground from both sets of supporters.

Unfortunately Doyle had to leave the action soon after with what looked like a calf injury and with the defence rearranged to accommodate sub Kye Ruel gaps began to show.

It was a missed tackle by Ruel that opened the door for Bryn Hammett but he was going nowhere when challenged by Maskell and referee Andrew Parker issued the harshest form of punishment, awarding a very soft penalty that Rudi Hall steered home with great aplomb.

That left Aveley to survive the last 22 minutes on the edge of their nerves and for the only time in the game Enfield had the initiative.

Straight from the restart Ricci Crace took advantage of Aveley confusion to race through but he was denied by a fine reactive piece of keeping by Rafis who raced off his line to narrow any shooting opportunity and then push the strike wide.

After that, although they looked unsteady, the home side managed to get a late foot in to make challenges when Town seem poised to strike and when shots did come in they were largely off target.

Millers did get the ball in the visitors' net on a rare late attack though sub Tom Poole was clearly offside when Maskell's shot took a deflection off him. When play restarted Jamie Nay caught the home defence unawares to break away and Rafis was grateful to force his angled drive away for a corner.

It was to be the last real chance of an always entertaining match and one that puts Millers, who defend their Thames-side Trophy at London APSA next Thursday, in good heart for a possible run at the lofty heights enjoyed by the side they had vanquished.

Aveley: Adam Raffis, John Maskell, Ryan Doyle (Kye Ruel), Sean Francis, Nicky Wettner, Ben Bradbury, Gary Skerritt, Wayne Vaughan, Leli Bajada (Tom Poole), Bradley Barnes. Subs not used: Glen Golby, Shaz Ahmed, Christian Wheeler.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Sat, Jan 26

7:11pm Saturday 26th January 2008

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