First half goals from Adam Flanagan and Harrison Chatting gave Billericay an Essex Senior Cup final win over Aveley at Thurrock’s Ship Lane
Aveley were able to call upon Kurt Smith and Luke Stanley due to their participation in the earlier rounds of the competition for the club, whilst there was also a return for striker Josh Llewellyn.
The Millers didn’t get off to the best possible start with a goal after just 58 seconds and despite plugging away throughout the match it all was in vain as when they did stretch the Blues defence they were met by a strong performance from Nicky Morgan in the Billericay goal.
Aveley conceded a foul 25 yards out and Adam Flanagan stepped up and fired it low into the bottom corner of Dave McCartney’s net for the worst possible start for Carl Griffiths’ side.
But the Millers responded to that disappointment with Luke Stanley impressing on the left wing and seeing his long range effort tipped behind by Morgan for a corner with four minutes gone
Orlando Smith then came in on off the right wing after 11 minutes to weave his way into the box but his shot from an acute angle was fired just over the bar as Aveley looked for an immediate response.
The game then settled, with both sides finding their way – not willing to make a mistake that could be crucial in a game of this stature.
Luke Stanley was pivotal at the other end as he was in the right place at the right time to head the ball off the line from Blues skipper Micah Hyde’s header with 26 minutes on the clock.
Morgan was again in fine form to deny Josh Llewellyn with his looping effort as he stretched and pushed it behind for a corner
But from the resulting corner there was another moment of magic from Billericay as they extended their lead when Chatting picked the ball up on the edge of the Aveley box and curled his effort superbly into the corner of the net leaving keeper McCartney with no chance.
After the break the Millers needed an early goal to spark any signs of revival and it wasn’t for the want of trying.
Orlando Smith nicked the ball off a Billericay man just inside the Blues half after 52 minutes before laying on Luke Stanley for a run down the left wing, but his delivery just evaded the head of Josh Llewellyn in the box.
For Billericay, Cedric Ngakam had two chances in the space of a minute, with one header being saved by McCartney, before glancing his second header wide of the mark.
Late on Aveley had a couple of half chances with Tony Russell seeing a shot blocked behind for a corner and substitute Kurt Smith going close after being found by Luke Stanley again with the winger’s impressive run, but once again Morgan was there to deny Aveley.
But it just wasn’t to be and now they just have to turn their attention to their league form as they look to avoid the drop from the Ryman Premier Division with four league games remaining.
Aveley: Dave McCartney, Ryan Andrews, Charlie Read (Tommy Cummings 90), Tony Russell, Spencer Harrison, Luke Stanley, Danny Slatter (Kurt Smith), Kenny Beaney, Sherwin Stanley (Alfie Dady 90), Josh Llewellyn, Orlando Smith.
Substitutes not used: Sean Francis, Elliott Anderson (gk)