Aveley 0, Northwood 0

AVELEY were the dominant force in this dour Ryman Division One North battle at Mill Field but failed to capitalise and in the end had to settle for a point.

Millers were without Gary Skerrit, Nicky Wettner and striker Leli Bejada and rested Sean Francis, but they started best on a very bumpy pitch and with the strong, biting wind sweeping across the ground, not really conducive to pretty football.

After nine minutes, a long free-kick was flicked on by Wayne Vaughan and Ainsley Gasper lacked composure when the ball fell to him on the edge of the six-yard box with Mitch Swain taking it away from him.

Northwood debutant, 19-year-old striker Matt Baxter who had arrived on a month's loan from Ryman Premier Ashford Town, looked most dangerous for the visitors and after 17 minutes a ball from Dwain Williams saw him burst into the box, holding off a defender but shooting just over the bar.

The Millers continued to hold the advantage, though, with Bradley Barnes getting a shot on target but with no real power, followed by a rising rocket of a free-kick from John Maskell which Swain tipped over the bar to be sure. From the resulting corner, Adam Theo headed off the line.

With ten minutes to go to the break Baxter was put through again, this time from a poor defensive header but his shot was beaten out by goalkeeper Adam Rafis when he should have done better.

The start of the second-half was much the same, with Vaughan testing Swain with a near-post strike which he saved well.

AS the match moved into its closing third Northwood picked up the pace but Aveley's defence remained strong. After 70 minutes, Michael Gordon was brought down just outside the box and Abdul Yoki struck a low free-kick, which Rafis did well to save by his feet.

In return, Barnes finally got the better of John Christian, who had been doing a fine job filling in at right-back, and hit a shot into the side-netting and then a free-kick drilled in by Shaz Ahmed was flicked on by the head of Ryan Doyle and Swain turned it over the bar.

That was the last chance for the home side, but there was one late bit of excitement for the travelling supporters as Hall flicked on a Ryan Tackley ball forward and Baxter raced through to score, only for an offside flag to correctly put an end to any celebrations.

The point leaves Millers, who gave a debut to Andy Oxby, just five points adrift of fifth-placed Redbridge, though their Essex neighbours have two matches in hand.

Aveley: Adam Rafis, Sam Holloway, John Maskell, Ryan Doyle, Glen Golby, Shaz Ahmed (Andy Oxby), Ben Bradbury, Christian Wheeler (Sean Francis), Wayne Vaughan (Tom Poole), Ainsley Gasper, Bradley Barnes. Subs not used: Kye Ruel, Richard Oxby.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Sat, Feb 16

3:10pm Sunday 17th February 2008

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