DOUBLES from Petrit Elbi and Neil Richmond earned the Millers’ a hard fought victory- but boss Rod Stringer was rightly unhappy with his side’s defensive performance.

Earlier on in the season it was the defence that was earning the Millers their good start, with the front men doing just enough to get the wins, but now it is a completely different story with the strikers scoring and the defence leaking goals.

And it almost made them pay but an excellent penalty save from James Marrable denied the visitors’ Lee Barnett a hat-trick, and a goal that would have put Chatham level.

Aveley got off to the worst possible start and it was the first sign of the defensive frailties as Barnett was able to ghost his way into the box and beat Marrable at his near post.

Chatham could have taken the lead minutes earlier when Rob Denness found himself unmarked in the box. His shot just scraped the inside of the post and crawled along the line only to be cleared to safety.

But Chatham were not in the lead for long as with the next attack the Millers’ drew level.

Elbi found space in the box with the Chatham defence backing off and they were made to pay as he slotted the ball into the top corner of the net for his first goal since late December.

Aveley looked threatening with every attack, but the problem was that Chatham also looked dangerous.

Junior Dadson was causing Chatham’s left back Dan Larkin some trouble on the wing and on almost every occasion it proved their undoing.

Skipper John Maskell was unfortunate not to put the Millers in front as he got on the end of a Dadson cross.

And Dadson played an important part in the Millers second goal as he blazed his way past Larkin and delivered the ball into the front post where Neil Richmond was ready and waiting to volley home.

It looked at that stage as the Millers’ would go on and win comfortably as they continued to have the better of Chatham and Ashley Proberts almost put the ball into his own net after Joao Carlos’s hard graft.

After the break the Millers’ continued to look threatening on almost every attack and opened up a two-goal cushion after 4 second half minutes.

Elbi broke free of the Chatham defence and keeper James Smith had no alternative but to bring the forward down leaving referee West no alternative but to point to the spot.

And Elbi duly slotted home the spot kick doubling his tally and putting the Millers’ on course for victory.

But Chatham were not going to roll over and pulled a goal back in controversial style.

Centre half John Maskell was ordered off the pitch with a bloody nose, and from the next attack Dan Westerman’s delivery was headed in at the back post by Brad Potter.

With the Millers still reeling from the goal the visitors’ wasted little time and drew level a minute later.

Barnett continued to look threatening and a simple ball over the top saw the striker rattle his shot low underneath Marrable and into the net to set up an intriguing finale.

The Millers’ showed true battling spirit as three minutes later they got themselves back into the lead.

Elbi found fellow strike partner Neil Richmond in the box but his original shot was blocked. Richmond quickly reacted to the block and shot goal wards to see his effort creep inside the post.

Richmond almost completed his hat-trick when Nicky Wettner’s delivery was only half cleared to the former Great Wakering man who spotted Smith off his line but he was denied by Richard Avery on the line.

Aveley had further chances to extend the lead but Dadson was denied cruelly by the bar.

But controversy was not to finish there as Maskell missed the ball allowing the pacy Byron Walker in and he was brought down in the box by Richard Ketchell and referee West pointed to the spot again.

Barnett looked all set to earn his side a point and a hat-trick for himself but although he placed his shot almost perfectly James Marrable was able to get down and push the effort wide of the post.

There was still nervous moments for the home side however they managed to hold on but they will not be happy that Neil Richmond picked up his fifth booking of the season and will miss the game against Tilbury in a fortnight’s time.

After the game Millers boss Rod Stringer said: “It is another win that will keep up top of the table but I am not impressed with today’s performance.

“Our strikers done well scoring two apiece and the midfield supplied the strikers well and although they have defensive responsibilities as well, the defence was poor and the first 10 minutes was particularly poor.

But Aveley’s faithful will be glad to hear the good news that defender Sean Francis is on the road to recovery and may even feature on Wednesday in the Capital League side’s game against Bishops Stortford.

“I would love to have Sean back now but we have to be patient and he has to come back when he is fully fit and not a day sooner and I may give him some match practice in the game in midweek.” said Stringer.

The other teams at the top of the table also won so the win was vital and will need to perform better if they are to still top the table come the end of the season.

Aveley; James Marrable, Glen Golby (Matthew Johnson 59), Sam Holloway, Garry Skerritt, John Maskell, Richard Ketchell, Junior Dadson, Nicky Wettner, Petrit Elbi (Sean Thomas 77), Neil Richmond, Joao Carlos
Unused subs: Christian Wheeler, Louis Bristow, Joel Barnett.