Akrofi Brace Helps To Defeat Grays

It was in the end a victory for the Millers with a youthful squad against local rivals Grays Athletic. A brace from Alex Akrofi who got his season up and running in the goal department was enough to clinch an important three points in this Velocity Trophy Group Stage match.

The visitors started on top and dominated large parts of the first half with Joao Carlos showing his pace and experience down our right hand side as he created chance after chance for Grays. Former-Miller Mitch Hahn had a long ranged effort which just went wide of the right hand post and out for a goal kick.

Joao Carlos had a couple of chances in quick successions, the first chance he blasted the ball over the crossbar from a tight angle and the second his cross to the back post was just missed by Manny Ogunrinde.

It was coming and on the 23rd minute Grays took the lead. Joao Carlos got in down the left hand side of the pitch, he made it to the by-line passed it back to Mitch Hahn who had the simple task and placed the ball into our bottom left hand corner of the net. Aveley 0-1 Grays.

Experienced central defender Steve King connected with a Mitch Hahn set-piece but he nodded just wide of our right hand post, with Jack Mcqueen at the back post missing what looked to be a tap in.

We did have potential chances as attempted through balls in between the lines were either overhit or defended well by Lewis Clark, Ashley Miller and Steve King as Grays looked strong to deny us any real chances.

Half Time | Aveley 0-1 Grays Athletic.

It was certainly a game of two halves as we controlled the majority of the second half, like how Grays controlled most of the first. The first chance of the half should've been taken to bring us level as the ball landed to Connor Witherspoon but Withers just couldn't make the correct contact with the ball as Danny Sambridge came out well to smother the ball and stop an effort on goal.

Dylan Beagle went down the right hand side and delivered a great cross into the box to shad Ngandu who just couldn't connect with it. We then had a glorious chance as we countered a rare second half Grays attack, we had four players on two, the initial first ball through was too far out wide left, it was centered to Duncan Corbett making his debut for the Millers but he fired a fierce effort over the crossbar.

After the hour mark we continued to press looking for a goal to pull us level, a shot from Alex Akrofi which looked destined for the top left hand corner was superbly saved by Grays keeper Danny Sambridge.

Another former-Miller Michael Pindy got in behind as he used his pace to get one-on-one but he could only force David Hughes to make a comfortable looking save.

With 12 minutes to go we pulled ourselves level. A long ball over the top of the Grays defence saw Alex Akrofi use his pace to get in behind first, with his first touch he chipped the on-rushing Danny Sambridge to find the back of the net to get his first of the season and our first of the game. Aveley 1-1 Grays Athletic.

The game didn't really have a derby feel to it with no real "dirty" tackles, well until the last ten minutes where a 90 second period brought about three yellow cards as the referee did really well to not let it escalate on the pitch. Darnell Bromfield went in quite high and was quickly shown a yellow card and was practically hugged by the referee as Grays players swarmed Darnell after a nasty looking tackle. In the next passage of play Lewis Dark got his own back after a reckless and late tackle and seconds after that Michael Pindy was off the ground flying into a very late challenge, thankfully no one was injured and three yellow cards were awarded.

Time ticked away which could see a penalty shoot out for the extra bonus point until the 90th minute as the Millers won all three points to condemn Grays to their second loss in the Group Stage. The ball was played into the box it came to Alex Akrofi who half swiveled and fired into the bottom left hand corner of the goal for his and our second of the match.

Full Time | Aveley 2-1 Grays Athletic.

Attendance | 128.

Millers XI | David Hughes, Dylan Beagle (Joe Elliott 61), Jonathan Nzengo, Connor Witherspoon, Harry Gibbs, George Allen, Duncan Corbett (Darnell Bromfield 72), James Love, Reggie Hubbard (Kane Hearn 61), Shad Ngandu, Alex Akrofi.

Unused Subs | David Servietis.

Grays Athletic XI | Danny Sambridge, Jack Mcqueen (Nathan Fox 86), Macaulay Joynes, Ashley Miller, Steve King, Stanley Muguo (Karl Kayembe 58), Manny Ogunrinde (Tim Ogunrinde 64), Mitch Hahn, Lewis Clark, Lewis Dark Rob Bartley (85), Joao Carlos (Michael Pindy 61).

Unused Subs | None.