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Aveley 2, Potters Bar Town 0

AVELEY secured a comfortable Ryman Division One North victory over Potters Bar, but not without some concern as it took until the 87th minute to seal the points.

In front of a large crowd the Millers' did not disappoint as they secured the win which extends their unbeaten run to eleven, even though it was the not the best of performances.

Sean Francis gave Millers a perfect start. After finding himself on the edge of the opponents' area the defender released a venomous shot on goal which beat everyone and went in off the post.

Many would have thought Millers would go on from there and win the game at a canter but it was not to be as they found Bar's keeper Tope Okeowo in fine form. He denied Francis again minutes later when he saved at his near post. The keeper's parry broke to Francis again but the towering centre half hit the post with his close range effort.

Millers continued to bombard the Potters Bar backline but could not find a way through. One of a number of chances Aveley created was started by Bradley Barnes who found Ainsley Gasper in the area who flicked the ball goal wards only to be denied by Okeowo and from the rebound Leli Bajada's effort landed safely in the keeper's hands.

Bajada continued to be in the thick of the action and delicately put a ball through to Barnes with only the keeper to beat but he shot straight at Okeowo.

Millers seemed sluggish after the break and they could have paid for it if Potters Bar had made more of their opportunities with former Miller' Sam Adejokun spurning the best one. After being gifted the ball by John Maskell he raced through on goal and curled his effort past Adam Rafis in the Millers' goal but it came back off the bar and was cleared away to safety.

Darryl Wilson also spurned a good opportunity for the visitors when through on goal with only Rafis to beat but he lofted his strike way over the bar.

Aveley then regained momentum and had further chances to wrap up the game but were unfortunate. Nicky Wettner can count himself unlucky when he released a thunderbolt from all of 35 yards and it looked to be going in until it rebounded off of the bar with Okeowo beaten.

But with three minutes of normal time remaining the result was made safe. Barnes' delivery from the left was headed goal wards by Francis which Okeowo saved but only as far as Bajada, who headed in from close range, to round off an excellent individual performance from the diminutive striker.

There was still time for Adejokun to receive his marching orders after two bookable offences in the matter of minutes, with the second yellow being shown after a late tackle on keeper Adam Rafis, which left the keeper in agony, still feeling the pain after the final whistle.

All in all, a solid if not convincing victory from Millers, but at the end of the day it is the result that counts and one that extends their unbeaten run to eleven games with the slim possibility of a play off place still possible if they continue their form in their remaining games.

Aveley: Adam Rafis, Sam Holloway, John Maskell, Ryan Doyle, Sean Francis, Nicky Wettner (Andy Oxby 90), Ben Bradbury (Shaz Ahmed 92), Christian Wheeler, Ainsley Gasper, Leli Bajada (Wayne Vaughan 90), Bradley Barnes. Subs not used: Kye Ruel, Keith Rowland.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Sat, March 15

9:21pm Saturday 15th March 2008

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