Millers start 2019 with vital win

A fantastic performance on the road at AFC Sudbury helped the Millers to deservedly claim all three points after goals from Tom Richardson and Andy Freeman.

The Millers got off to a perfect start to 2019 with a win against AFC Sudbury after goals from Tom Richardson and Andy Freeman helped us to a 2-0 victory. It was a vital three points and it came against an AFC Sudbury side who had previously had a 5-3 win over Brentwood, an 8-2 win over Dereham and a 3-1 victory over Mildenhall Town at home, it was a team very much on the way up after a slow start to the season.

We started the game well with Shad Ngandu creating a chance but his cross was cleared away by Tyler French before we could have the chance to go ahead within the first ten minutes. That half-chance was followed by good work from Tom Richardson as he found the space to send a shot curling just over the crossbar.

Just before the 20th-minute mark we almost took the lead, Alex Akrofi broke through he squared it to Tom Richardson who just skewered it high and wide of the goal. AFC Sudbury did have a brief spell and came back into the game slightly as Dettmar played in Bennett but he drilled his shot high and wide of the goal, and Altintop had his close-range effort blocked before David Hughes had to do anything.

On the 30th minute the Millers had a chance from the spot to take the lead at The Wardale Williams Stadium, Tom Richardson was taken down in the box which gave Alex Akrofi the chance, but on this occasion he couldn't find the back of the net as Paul Walker made the save to deny Alex his 12th goal of the season.

Our heads could've dropped after that penalty miss but only a matter of minutes later and we got our deserved goal. The ball came in from the left-hand side to Tom Richardson who blasted in from ten yards out for his 16th goal of the campaign. AFC Sudbury 0-1 Aveley.

Just before half-time, we almost doubled our lead after good work from Sam Mvemba, he crossed to the box and found Tom Richardson who headed just wide after immense pressure by Tyler French.

Half Time | AFC Sudbury 0-1 Aveley.

We started the second half brightly with Shad Ngandu having an effort from the edge of the area and Alex Akrofi was denied by Paul Walker again from inside the box as we hunted for that needed breathing room against a team like AFC Sudbury.

The Millers didn't have to wait long for that breathing room as Andy Freeman worked his way into the area and smashed it past Walker to score our second of the game. AFC Sudbury 0-2 Aveley.

Five minutes after our second, we almost bagged our third of the game, Tom Richardson curled the ball into the box, Alex Akrofi turned it goalwards but it just went an inch wide of the post.

Shad Ngandu had a chance from a set-piece with 25 minutes to g, but his effort was saved well by the keeper. Marcus Milner injected his pace into the game down the right-hand side but his cut back just couldn't fit an Aveley player and the chance was gone.

Harry Gibbs had a go from his own free-kick but his powerful strike crashed the wall and the ball was cleared away.

Full Time | AFC Sudbury 0-2 Aveley.

Attendance | 255.

Millers XI | David Hughes, Jake Pitty, Sam Mvemba, James Love, Connor Witherspoon, Sam Cross, Andy Freeman, Amir Berkane (Harvey Brown 82), Tom Richardson, Shad Ngandu (Harry Gibbs 86), Alex Akrofi (Marcus Milner 70).

Unused Subs | Wyan Reid.

AFC Sudbury XI | Paul Walker, Liam Bennett, Darryl Coakley (Joe Grimwood 66), Baris Altintop, Tyler French, Joe Whight, Ben Hunter, Tom Dettmar, Paul Hayes (Mekhi McKenzie 66), Callum Harrison (Thomas Monk 66), Reece Harris.

Unused Subs | Isaac Skubich, Tom Maycock.