Leader scored the winner for the Millers after seeing his side go 1-0 down early in the first half.

But the goal from Leader caused some controversy as the linesman had originally ruled out the centre half's volley for offside only for the referee to overrule his assistant.

It proved to be the correct decision from referee Killip, although it wasn't immediately apparent as to what decision he had come to, and the goal stood.

This came after the visitors took the lead when James Robinson was on hand to mop up after Glenn Poole had hit the crossbar.

Aaron Gayle equalised right on the stroke of half time with his first goal for the club, tapping in from close range after Rashid Kamara had hit the post, before Leader's winner in the second half.

The win against the side the tier above Aveley was just rewards for an almost perfect team performance from back to front.

Prior to the game news was beginning to filter through that top scorer, Junior Appiah, was on the verge of leaving Mill Field to go to Conference South side Chelmsford.

And Appiah was one of a number of absentees from the Millers squad to take on Billericay.

Following that defeat to Heybridge, Justin Gardner suggested tonight's line up may be a weaker than normal Aveley side. But with the exception of Siao Blackwood and Gbenga Sonuga who were making their first starts for the team, it was a strong Millers line up.

Billericay likewise fielded a strong starting line-up with 10 of the players involved either in the starting 11 or on the bench against Hampton & Richmond on Saturday featuring in the squad.

With that in mind it was little surprise when the team wearing sky blue took the lead midway through the first half through their number nine, James Robinson.

After Isaac Layne had carried the ball down the right touch line the winger pulled the ball back towards the edge of the area where Glenn Poole was arriving. The central midfielder struck the ball first time with the outside of the foot, with his shot crashing off the cross bar and falling to Robinson who reacted quickest to tap in the rebound after 19 minutes.

You began to wonder if the Millers were going to be in for a long night following their recent run of poor form, especially with the knowledge that Billericay smashed another Ryman Premier side, AFC Hornchuch, 7-2 in the previous round.

But Gardner’s side regrouped from going a goal behind and held off Billericay’s advances, without being able to create any immediate chances of their own for an equaliser.

However as the half drew to a close the hosts finally created two goal-scoring chances, one of which lead to the Millers leveling the tie.

Aryan Tajbakhsh found himself the wrong side of the Billericay back line after being played in by Rashid Kamara, but the winger could only find the legs of goalkeeper William Lumley with his low strike.

From the resulting corner the ball was punched into the air by Lumley, falling to Layne who swung and missed his attempted clearance, allowing Kamara to send the ball dribbling towards goal. The strike wasn’t the cleanest but it made its way through the bodies, striking the foot of the post and falling to Gayle to tap in from a yard.

The goal came at the perfect time for the home side and sent them into the second half with their tails up, and they almost went in front within three minutes of the restart when Sam Holloway crossed for Nesbitt to head just wide.

Aveley were in the ascendency and were looking the most likely to go on and win this cup tie with Leader and Sonuga looking untroubled by what Billericay had to offer.

And with just over 20 minutes left of normal time remaining Leader went and scored what was to be the match winner, but in controversial fashion.

A free kick had been awarded just inside the Billericay half which was floated into the box by Holloway. Gayle and Ryan Scott both jumped for the ball with Scott getting the flick on which landed at the feet of Leader to smash home the volley.

The Aveley centre half’s celebrations were cut short when the assistant on the far side raised his flag for offside, but after consulting with the referee the goal was awarded.

Leader was in an offside position when the ball was flicked on but as it was a Billericay player who flicked the ball on it meant that Leader wasn’t offside so the goal stood.

Although it wasn’t clear as to what to referee had given with Billericay even taking the free kick that they thought they had been awarded, but the referee eventually cleared matters up and the Millers were 2-1 up.

Now having to come from behind, Billericay began to up the pace as they desperately tried to find an equaliser.

But if anything it was Aveley who were looking the most likely to score the next goal in this cup tie and a third goal would have well and truly killed the tie off.

Nesbitt inexplicably hit the post from a matter of feet after a brilliant delivery from Nathan Koranteng from the left and in the final moments of the game Jason Twum had a glorious opportunity to seal it but his effort was well saved by Lumley.

In between those efforts Giddens was called upon to make a smart save with his feet Robinson, and he made an even better save very late on from Ricky Sappleton.

The substitute turned in the box and got a snap shot away which was parried by Giddens. With Billericay players baring down on him to smash home the rebound the goalkeeper did brilliantly well to get back to his feet quickly and jump onto the ball, helping Aveley across the line and into the next round where they will face the winner of Romford and Grays Athletic.

After the match a proud Aveley boss, Justin Gardner, said “from one to 11 and the subs that come on they were a credit to the club.

“I’m lost for words. Jay Leader, I think he was everywhere on the pitch, ‘S’ (Gbenga Sonuga) has come in today having not played for a while and I thought he was superb.

“The right back (Siao Blackwood) hasn’t played since pre-season, he was awesome. Sam (Holloway) done well as well. Jack Giddens pulled off two important saves.

“It was a team performance; there were no individuals out there.”

Aveley: Jack Giddens, Siao Blackwood, Sam Holloway, Jay Leader, Gbenga Sonuga (c), Brian Okwera, Teddy Nesbitt, Rashid Kamara (Jason Twum 68’), Aaron Gayle, Nathan Koranteng (Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe 90’), Aryan Tajbakhsh