This last game of 2017 was actually a great performance from the Millers who created numerous chances to win the game, but in the end a late equaliser for ten-man AFC Sudbury made the Millers settle for a point, dropping two points.

George Doyle has two early chances, the first was set up by Amir Berkane who passed into Doyle, but George was off balance as he shot and it was saved by Jake Jessup. The next was Lewis Gard who passed to Doyle, George took aim from outside of the area but his curled effort was wide of the goal.

AFC Sudbury had half shouts for penalties as Reece Dobson seemed to throw himself to the floor, we stopped playing as Munday crossed to the back post, thankfully Horne couldn’t get there in time to put the visitors ahead.

On the 18 minutes mark, the Millers took the lead from a corner kick. George Doyle’s corner zipped into the box and it was met by Alex Teniola who has his fourth goal for the Millers since joining from Thamesmead to put Aveley ahead at Parkside. Aveley 1-0 AFC Sudbury.

The visitors came back and it was almost a bit controversial as they had a chance to pull back level. Rhys Madden collected the ball, while in the air he was pushed, he dropped the ball, it could’ve gone anywhere but thankfully Alex Stephenson was on hand to clear the ball away.

On 30 minutes the Gard brothers combined, Freddie played in Lewis, Lewis went for goal but couldn’t keep his shot down as it went just over the bar.

The Millers had a couple of half chances to add to the lead before the break. Crosses from Freddie Gard and George Doyle were just over the heads of both Alex Teniola and Connor Witherspoon.

Half Time | Aveley 1-0 AFC Sudbury.

Three minutes into the half and the visitors were down to ten men. Striker Reece Dobson went down easily under pressure, shouted at the referee for the free-kick. Said some other words not fit for this match report and the referee was right to give Dobson the red card.

On 55 minutes the Millers had a glorious chance to kill the game off from the penalty spot. Probably the most obvious penalty ever, Billy Holland took down Lewis Gard who dribbled past the Sudbury centre-half. Alex Teniola stepped up but cracked the penalty against the underside of the crossbar and away from the goal.

The Millers didn’t let that stop them as we continued to press for the second. Lewis Gard found Alex Teniola, but as he was shooting he slipped and it was an easy save from Jake Jessup. George Doyle intercepted a pass took aim and fired wide of the right-hand post.

Freddie Gard then had a goal disallowed as the linesmen flagged him for offside. Lewis Gard had an effort it was palmed out by Jessup into the path of Gard who tapped in, but he was in an offside position.

We continued the pressure but just didn't convert half chances, George Woodward flashed across a drive along the goalmouth but no one was there and it went out for a throw-in.

After all the pressure, if you don't kill teams off you allow them a glimmer of hope and on the 89th minute, the sucker punch arrived. The visitors went down our left-hand side, crossed the ball into the box where Mekhi McKenzie tapped into the goal unmarked. Aveley 1-1 AFC Sudbury.

In stoppage time we had a few chances, George Woodward's 25-yard free-kick struck the wall. From the resulting corner it came to Myles Keizer-Burrows but under pressure, he nodded wide of the goal.

Full Time | Aveley 1-1 AFC Sudbury.

Millers XI | Rhys Madden, Russell Malton, Alex Stephenson, Connor Witherspoon, Myles Keizer-Burrows, George Woodward, Lewis Gard, Amir Berkane, Alex Teniola, George Doyle (Max Bradford 85), Freddie Gard (Jordan Watson 75).

Unused Subs | Matthew Rose, Robbie Rees.

Sudbury XI | Jake Jessup, Sam Mills (Mehki McKenzie 73), Jake Clowsley, Billy Holland, Tyler French, Joe Whight, Ollie Peters, Ben Hunter, Reece Dobson, Ryan Horne, Kane Munday (William Crisell 54).

Unused Subs | Ian Miller, Tom Dettmar.