After Junior Appiah had put the Millers ahead early on, two goals from Cook – one from the penalty spot and another from a corner – was enough to send the Ryman South side through at Aveley’s expense.

But the Millers would have come away from Reachfields wondering how they didn’t at least force a replay having controlled almost the entire second half in search of an equaliser.

It wasn’t to be however as Aaron Gayle had a goal disallowed and another effort cleared off the line, Hythe goalkeeper Dan Eason pulled off a couple of smart saves at his near post and Jason Twum hit the woodwork as the hosts held on.

Despite arguably being the better side over the course of the 90 minutes it was yet another defeat for Justin Gardner’s men, who have now only won one of their last seven in all competitions.

But after defeating Barkingside so convincingly last weekend to stem a run of five straight defeats in league and cup, confidence was up in the Millers camp going into this F.A. Trophy tie at Hythe, a side who ply their trade in the southern section of Ryman Division One.

The Millers couldn’t have asked for a better start either, as within six minutes they were ahead through Junior Appiah.

His goal wasn’t anywhere near as audacious as the one he scored in that 5-0 win over Barkingside last week, but it still oozed quality.

The winger picked the ball up about 25 yards from goal from Anton Stephenson before turning and curling a delightful effort from just inside the area, past the despairing Dan Eason and in to give the away side the lead.

Having taken such an early lead it was important for the Millers to hold onto their advantage and control the tempo of the tie. But before they could settle back into the match they found themselves level again as Hythe were awarded a penalty.

Rhys Lawson cantered into the area and invited Sam Holloway to make a challenge, an offer which the left back duly accepted as he tried to nick the ball off the Hythe number 11. Lawson fell to his knees from what looked like minimal contact and looked at the referee in the hope he would give a penalty, which he subsequently awarded.

The home side’s captain, Dave Cook, stepped up confidently to smash home the spot kick and level things up at 1-1 after just nine minutes.

After starting the game so well it was a bitter blow for Justin Gardner’s side to be back on level terms so quickly after going in front.

But the away side set about wrestling back the advantage and were unfortunate not to go into the lead again when Teddy Nesbitt forced Eason into tipping his first-time effort around the post, although neither the referee nor linesman saw the touch from Eason and awarded a goal-kick.

Without that vital touch from Eason it would certainly have been Aveley back in the lead, but minutes after the away side came so close up one end, the home side went one better and went in front through their captain once again.

A succession of corners led to the ball being delivered into the near post where it was attacked by Cook and Ryan Cooper. The Hythe captain rose highest to glance his header towards goal and in to put the home side in front, despite the best efforts Nesbitt on the line.

Once again the Millers found themselves behind after having previous taken the lead which has become an all too familiar story of late. Although Stephenson done his best to try and get Aveley back on terms when he got on the end of a Danny Hopkins cross to head just wide as the two sides went into the break.

With £2,500 at stake for the winner plus a home tie in the next round, the emphasis was on Aveley to come out of the blocks in the second half to force an equaliser.

Within minutes of the restart Jason Twum saw his near post effort beat Eason but not the post as it cannoned away to safety.

Appiah then looked to threaten as he forced the Hythe 'keeper into a smart save at the near post once more as the hosts kept Aveley at bay.

Despite Aveley's dominance in possession, Hythe did have the occasional chance to kill the game off.

And Aveley were indebted to Jack Giddens for ensuring that they remained in the tie after he saved a Taser Hassan effort with his feet before Cook skied a half chance for his hat-trick over the bar seconds later.

A change of formation saw the Millers go with three at the back as they tried to force a replay and the longer the half wore you the more you believed it would come as Gardner’s side continue to dominate the play.

But despite their superiority on the ball, a cutting edge was ultimately missing as Hythe held firm.

Aaron Gayle and Shane Oakley were introduced as Aveley doubled their attacking options. Of the two, Gayle looked the most threatening as he searched for his first goal for the club.

The six foot plus striker created three chances to get the Millers back level. The first saw his header from a corner desperately cleared off the line, the second a low snap shot was gathered well by Eason and the third did see the ball in the net as Gayle headed in from a corner, only for the referee to disallow it for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Eventually, the Millers ran out of ideas as they huffed and puffed, but were unable to blow the Hythe house down and the Kent side advanced at Aveley’s expense.

After the game, head-coach Glenn Robson said “We were better in stages today.

“Second half we worked on them a bit more but just couldn’t find a way through to get the equaliser or even go on a win the game.

“Although we dominated for large periods we just didn’t have that cutting edge today.”