Dominant Millers defeated

Despite a dominant performance the Millers were defeated away at Felixstowe & Walton United by two goals to nil.

It was both a frustrating afternoon and very happy afternoon with how much dominance we had in the game. When it’s just not going your own way, the opposition keeper gets Man Of The Match, you miss a penalty, and Felixstowe score with their two only chances and they both came from errors so weren’t even chances that were created, it’s just not your day.

Due to an accident on the M11 and A12 it delayed the Millers getting to the ground and with that a chance to the teamsheet late followed.

Despite that we turned in one of the most dominant displays any Millers has seen for a long time. Within the first minute a Tom Richardson teasing cross into the backpost was dropped by the keeper which was probably his first any only mistake of the game. Harry Gibbs headed down a cross for Alex Teniola who had his shot blocked from close range.

Shad Ngandu was next to get in behind but saw his cross across the six yards box cut own by the keeper. Alex Teniola then chested and volleyed a chance but it went over the crossbar.

Minutes later Sam Mvemba tested the keeper with a cross/come shot but that was finger tipped over the bar by the back-peddling keeper.

The keeper was at it again as Alex Teniola’s curling top corner bound effort was tipped around the post. Sam Mvemba then crossed for Tom Richardson who could only get his shoulder onto it and guide it an inch wide of the post.

Despite that dominance with the hosts rarely even visiting our half, first time they got in our final third the hosts took the lead. After a half effort at goal, the ball wasn’t cleared and the fortune was with the hosts as it bounced a few times and landed on our goal line for Jordan Matthews to tap it in. Felixstowe & Walton 1-0 Aveley.

We continued our dominance with the last ten minutes of the half, Tom Richardson had an effort comfortably saved. Then just before half time Richardson played it to George Doyle whose effort was punched away by the keeper to somehow keep them ahead.

Half Time | Felixstowe & Walton 1-0 Aveley

If the first half was dominant then I’m not sure what you can call the second half. James Webster’s men set up camp inside the Felixstowe half, we huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow the house down.

Tom Richardson turned on the edge of the box but could only fire it directly at the keeper. Andy Freeman then got into the box but couldn’t get a shot off on this occasion as he was slightly nudged off balance just as he was about to shoot.

Around the 60th minute we had another couple of chances, George Doyle had his shot blocked and Tom Richardson low drive was palmed clear again.

Next chance and Tom Richardson fired wide of the goal, it was a glorious chances as the ball came to Richardson one-on-one with the keeper, and the only time we beat the keeper, unfortunately we also beat the post as it went an inch wide of the keeper’s left stick.

But the best chance was in the 78th minute, the energetic Alex Akrofi was taken out inside the area, and the penalty was correctly awarded. Tom Richardson stepped up and went the same way as he did against Dereham Town and unfortunately this time the keeper went that same way and managed to save the penalty.

The last ten minutes was just more domination, but we couldn’t stick the ball in the net. The Felixstowe keeper made two more fantastic saves to deny George Doyle and Andy Freeman, somehow seeing Doyle’s shot through two of his own defenders legs as it arrowed towards the bottom corner.

The drama continued as Ben Clarke saw a red card for the hosts after a few French words towards the referee and he was shown a straight red.

The even bigger sucker punch then occurred as with their second shot on target the hosts doubled their lead. A few mistakes at the back allowed Sam Ford through and tap in from a yard out despite David Hughes best efforts.

A game where it just didn’t go our way, the Millers will easily play worse than that and win, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Full Time | Felixstowe & Walton 2-0 Aveley

Attendance | 408

Millers XI | David Hughes, Garrett Kelly, Sam Mvemba, James Love, Harry Gibbs (Connor Witherspoon 56), Sam Cross, Andy Freeman, George Doyle, Tom Richardson, Shad Ngandu (Alex Akrofi 56), Alex Teniola (Marcus Milner 77).

Unused Subs | Tony Martin, Ben Sampayo.