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Aveley 3, Redbridge 0

HIGH-FLYING Redbridge were brought crashing down to earth by Rod Stringer's increasingly impressive Millers on Saturday.

Redbridge arrived at Mill Field as the Ryman Division One North's form team. But they left it a very chastened side as their run of six successive league wins was comprehensively ended and Aveley completed a season's double.

2-1 winners at Redbridge earlier in the season, they set off in determined fashion and opened the scoring after just six minutes with a goal that involved two former Redbridge players. One of them, Ben Bradbury, was set free by Ryan Doyle's pass and he whipped in a fine cross that was met by Gary Skerritt - a recent Stringer signing from Redbridge - and his 12 yard shot found the back of the net giving keeper Tony Tucker no chance.

Tucker was to have a busy afternoon and he was again in the thick of the action on 10 minutes, first blocking a shot from Bradbury then scrambling back to grasp the ball after Leli Bajada got on the end of the rebound but his effort lacked the pace to evade Tucker's grateful hands.

Five minutes later it was Tucker's right boot that came to the rescue when he kept out John Maskell's low drive.

Having found themselves on the back foot for the opening quarter Redbridge eventually began to pick up the pace and on 22 minutes recent recruit Steve Butterworth laid a good ball into the path of Jeff Hammond, but Millers keeper Adam Rafis was equal to his shot.

Redbridge's Jack Wignall then went close with a header that drifted just past the post.

Having escaped, Aveley took full advantage by extending their lead on 28 minutes and Wignall was partly at fault, failing to adequately clear Nicky Wettner's long ball forward and Wayne Vauhan capitalised by volleying the ball back into the net.

Rafis had more work to do as Redbridge strived hard to get back into the match but Millers held their nerve and a two goal advantage into the break.

Stringer was forced to make a change at the interval with Bradbury unable to continue and Kye Ruel taking his place.

The reorganisation hampered Aveley on the restart and they spent much of the opening exchanges of the second half on the back foot.

However, their defensive line of Sam Holloway, Maskell, Sean Francis and Doyle was superb - backed up when needed by Rafis who did particularly well to keep out Nicky Symons' 53rd minute effort.

He was also on hand to deny another recent Redbridge signing Leon Fisher on 65 minutes and the visiting player's frustration boiled over a couple of minutes later with a reckless challenge that earned him a red card.

To their credit Redbridge's remaining ten men gave it a good go into last 20 minutes, frequently pushing Milers back but there is a resolution about Aveley these days that is admirable and they were determined not to crack, keeping their visitors at bay and Rafis popping up with another fine 80th minute save from Hammond.

And the game was finally put beyond Redbridge seven minutes from time when Nicky Skelton made a hash of a back-pass and Vaughan was on the error in a flash, forcing the ball past Tucker to wrap up another fine performance from the much revitalised Millers who are definitely looking like a side capable of joining Redbridge in the promotion mix.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Feb 2

10:12pm Saturday 2nd February 2008

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