Aveley 1 Gillingham 0
BY COLIN MUNFORD
IN AN evenly fought encounter the Millers’ shaded the match with a second half strike from sub Ellie Kayembe.
In the Gillingham line up, was a former Miller’ Mark Bentley who played for the first half after recent recovery from injury.
Their starting line up also included former Grays loanee’s Andy Pugh and Luis Cumbers, as well as Moses Ashikodi.
Piers Wixon had the first real Millers’ opportunity shooting goal wards from close range, seeing his shot tipped past the post by Darran Hawkes.
But after that it was the League One visitors that held the upper hand as Emmanuel Udoji headed just over the bar from Moses Ashikodi’s cross.
Gillingham continued to look threatening and an excellent manoeuvre almost ended productively with Luis Cumbers shot being blocked by the on rushing keeper James Marrable.
The second half brought the usual substitutions from both sides, with neither side matching their first half performance.
Neil Richmond looked promising, along with fellow strike partner Kayembe, with the former seeing his turn and shot blocked.
But minutes later it was his strike partner who profited as he managed to head on Sam Holloway’s left wing cross from close range and past Hawkes.
Gillingham had their chance to draw level, mostly coming from manager Mark Stimson’s son Charlie but was to be denied twice by sub keeper Ronnie Worster.
Aveley: James Marrable(Ronnie Worster 62), Michael Alaile, Sam Holloway (Nicky Wettner 78), Gareth Street (Matt Johnson 56), Paul Kier (Sam Adejokun 68), Nathan Fletcher (David Cooper 70), Junior Dadson (Tashan Adeyinka 78), Garry Skerritt (Nicky Symonds 56), Martin Tuohy (Neil Richmond 62), Piers Wixon (Ellie Kayembe 62), Victor Omogbehin (Kurt Smith 78).
Gillingham: Darran Hawkes, Sam Long, Rimmell Daniel (Connor Essam 85), Emmanuel Udoji, Tom Wynter, Jack Payne, Mark Bentley (Nathan Ashton 46), Andy Pugh (Charlie Stimson 66), Luis Cumbers (Liam Geering 66), Rashid Yussuff (Jack Evans 66), Moses Ashikodi
Unused Sub: Cisse