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Aveley 1, Witham Town 2

MILLERS slipped to their first home defeat under manager Rod Stringer and with Monday's Essex Thames-side Trophy clash with Brimsdown Rovers approaching, Stringer will hope this is merely a blip rather than a loss of form on the back of last week's defeat at Edgware.

Aveley might well have taken more from this Ryman Division One North clash but failed to make the most of some early dominance, though they did take the lead.

They were missing defensive lynchpin Sean Francis who was injured in a friendly at Romford but they still have a strong side that made a bright start.

Witham didn't trouble their hosts until the sixth minute when the much-travelled Julian Edwards, who has featured for several borough sides including Aveley, set Cody McDonlad free but Millers keeper Adam Rafis blocked his first effort and a second shot went wide.

Millers took the lead just a minute later when Ainsley Gasper fed Ben Bradbury and he produced an angled lob over the keeper Rhys Madden into corner.

Bradbury might well have put the match beyond Witham by half time, particularly with a 14th minute shot that Madden blocked with his legs and a sidefoot shot on 19 minutes that the keeper again saved.

They were misses Aveley were to rue on 25 minutes when Rob King delivered a cross into the box and the defence went awol as McDonald nipped in and was unmarked as he slotted the ball home from six yards.

On the half hour Rafis did well to tip King's 22 yard free kick over the bar.

Witham finished the half strongly and Lee Johnson lobbed over the bar and than McDonald's effort was saved by Rafis after a weak back header from John Maskell.

Aveley had their closing moments too though, with Barnes and Christian Wheeler seeing shots saved.

In the second half Aveley might have taken the lead on 56 minutes when Wettner laid the ball off to Wayne Vaughan but the Miller who wasn't having the best of matches, saw his volley saved by Madden at his near post.

And the Mill Field man was also slightly short of pace on 64 minutes when he chased a good through ball but Madden was quick to react and beat him to it.

The decisive goal came on 69 minutes when McDonald continued giving Maskell a torrid afternoon by going past him and whipping in a super cross that left Edwards the task of tapping in from six yards, though his job was made easier by a lack of pressure.

Millers still had chances, with Bradbury again being denied by Madden.

Rafis came to Aveley's aid to deny the pacy McDonald when he broke clear on a counter attack and in the closing minutes Leli Bejada, who had replaced Vaughan, set up another substitute but Andy Oxby blazed over the bar.

The last half hour also saw a league debut for Manzi Mbala in place of Gasper and he could well feature in Monday's tie when Aveley defend their trophy.

Aveley: Adam Rafis, Sam Holloway, John Maskell, Ryan Doyle, Glen Golby Nicky Wettner, Ben Bradbury (Andy Oxby 80), Christian Wheeler, Wayne Vaughan (Leli Bejada 75), Ainsley Gasper (Manzi Mbala 62), Bradley Barnes.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Sat April 12

8:53pm Saturday 12th April 2008

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