Aveley 0, AFC Hornchurch 1

MILLERS put up a brave fight against Championship favourites AFC Hornchurch but lost to a single Garry Cross goal on Bank Holiday Monday.

Infact, it was Aveley who had the better of the early exchanges in this game as Colin McBride's new charges had a bit of a shock.

A Sam Adejokun low cross was scrambled clear in the first ten minutes and five minutes later Gary Dixon set up Adejokun, who forced visiting keeper Dale Brightley into a fine save.

Six minutes later Ricky Dobson sped down the left wing and beat the right back. His cross-come-shot was turned out by Brightley and the resulting corner was cleared, under pressure, by central defender ex-Thurrock stalwart Jim McFarlane.

After this, however, the newly-promoted Urchins became the dominant side and deservedly took the lead on 38 minutes. A long throw from the left caused havoc in the home penalty area and Cross, one of a number of ex-Fleet players in the Urchins side, was in the right place to slot home after the ball had been cleared off the line twice.

After the restart it was the away side who continued to impose their mark on the game, with Cross and Mark Janney proving to be a real handful for the Aveley back four.

With 62 minutes Millers boss threw on Ryan Sammons for Ricky Dobson and he very nearly stole a point for the hosts in the second minute of stoppage time when he flicked the ball over Brightley, though the attempt was cleared off the line by a defender.

This result may leave Aveley with just one win from their first four games but the performance will provide much encouragement for boss Browne.

Aveley: Palmer, Dobson (Sammons), Bourgeois, Strange, Stevens, Mangodza, Mensah, Davey, Dixon, Tuohy, Adejokun.