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Aveley 1, Ware 1

AVELEY were denied a victory against Ryman One North high-fliers Ware by a late goal that effectivey puts an end to their hopes of a run to the play-offs.

While that maight be a slight disappointment, it's still been a great few months for Millers who, under new manager Rod Stringer, have produced a string of fine performances.

A key player in that run has been keeper Adam Rafis, who has received the league's golden gloves award for February.

Prior to conceding at Brentwood last week he had gone 711 minutes without being beaten in open play and for much of Saturday's game it looked like he would be embarking on another impressive run.

The first half was a rather disappointing affair, with few chances.

Ben Bradbury gave visiting keeper James Hoad the opportunity to make a comfortable save to keep out his tenth minute volley and Ware had a couple of opportunities soon after. 20 goal John Frendo got through but shot high and wide and then cut another shot across the face of goal.

In the 35th minute Joe Stevens put over a cross that found Steve Horsey at the near post but he shot wide and the last effort of the half went to Aveley, whose fans thought they had scored but Ryan Doyle's header from Bradbury's cross rippled the side-netting rather than the back of the net.

There was much more goalmouth action in the second half, Aveley's Andy Oxby setting the tempo as early as the first minute when he shot from the edge of the box.

At the other end Frendo shot over again.

With things livening up Bradbury got on the end of a defence-beating long ball from Rafis but he didn't get a good connection on his drive at goal, Hoad making another easy save.

The deadlock was broken on 56 minutes. Nicky Wettner, fresh from an amateur boxing appearance at Shoreditch Town Hall on Thursday when he knocked out his opponent, delivered a corner which defender Dave Blower was glad to head away for another corner, this time crossed by Bradbury. It wasn't cleared and Sean Francis stole in to head his first goal for Millers.

Aveley might have extended the lead soon after but Bradbury couldn't get enough purchase on his header.

However, it looked as if Millers had done enough until a rare defensive lapse on 85 minutes allowed Danny Spendlove to leave Kye Ruel and Sam Holloway in his wake before thrashing home a superb angled low drive.

Ware might even have taken all the points when a lob from Frendo bounced off the crossbar in the last minute, though Aveley had the last chance of the match but after Ainsley Gasper put Oxby through he again failed to find the venom to trouble Hoad.

Millers: Adam Rafis, Sam Holloway, John Maskell, Ryan Doyle, Sean Francis, Glen Golby, Ben Bradbury, Christian Wheeler, Andy Oxby, Leli Bajada (Ainsley Gasper 79), Nicky Wettner (Kye Ryle 81). Subs not used: Shaz Ahmed, Wayne Vaughan, Phil Skelton.

Ryman Division One North, Up to and inc Sat, March 1

5:04pm Sunday 2nd March 2008

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