AVELEY made hard work of beating their Ryman One North rivals and near neighbours to clinch a home tie with Hitchin in the next round of the FA Trophy.

Millers were always in the driving seat, but failed to turn that superiority into goals - thanks largely to the efforts of Ilford’s Anton Trice who saved his side by clearing off the line four times in the first half.

In the end Aveley did manage to extract revenge for last season’s defeat in this competition at the same stage by Ilford and they have banked the £2,000 prize money.

The home side made a bright start and after just seven minutes Joao Carlos danced through the visitor's defence. His shot was blocked but Wayne Vaughan was on hand to steer the ball goalwards again, only for Trice to make the first of his vital clearances.

Chris Thomas had the chance to score for Ilford against the run of play on 17 minutes but he lobbed the ball wide when well placed. Vaughan was then thwarted for a second time by Trice on 25 minutes. Petrit Elbi then saw a good effort saved by Robert Budd.

The visitors didn’t show much as an attacking force, though Chuck Dureu went close with a stab at goal after Sean Francis cleared a corner and then home stopper James Marrable did well to keep out Harry Chalk’s low header.

Just before the break Trice made another of his vital clearances to deny Ryan Doyle, who had been set up by more good work from Carlos.

Carlos was also in the thick of things soon after the restart, creating the chance for Doyle’s diving header which went just past the post.

Millers were still in the ascendancy and Vaughan again went close twice before Marrable was called into the action to deny an effort from Dureu.

At the other again Budd pulled of another good stop from Carlos before the deadlock was finally broken on 63 minutes when Tony Russell was adjudged to have hand-balled. Budd saved Vaughan’s penalty but the ball broke for the alert Carlos who forced it over the line.

Ilford belied their league position by coming back at Aveley strongly and they created several anxious moments in the home defence before the game was finally put beyond them in the last minute when Ben Bradbury and substitute Joel Barnett combined with the final chance falling for Vaughan to slot home with 90 minutes on the clock.

Aveley: James Marrable, Ryan Doyle, Sam Holloway, Christian Wheeler, John Maskell, Sean Francis, Ben Bradbury, Matt Johnson (Nicky Wettner 67), Petri Elbi (Joel Barnett 70), Wayne Vaughan, Joao Carlos (Bradley Barnes 92).