The Millers made a couple of changes with Shad Ngandu, Connor Witherspoon and Tom Richardson in the starting eleven, as Jack Mochalski and George Sykes were on the bench and James Goode missed out through illness.

It was a quiet start to the game with The Millers having a couple of corners which were both cleared away with ease. Tom Richardson had the ball played to his feet inside the area but was adjudged to be holding off the defender and he was denied an effort on goal with a swivel.

The first shot of the game came as Jason Raad eyed up a 25 yarder, it was a good effort and was heading into the bottom right-hand corner but the keeper made a comfortable save and held onto the swerving shot well.

on 15 minutes, Soham Town Rangers took the lead with their only real chance of the game in truth, a cross came in from the right and the deadly Mulready headed into the top left-hand corner to put the hosts ahead. Soham Town Rangers 1-0 Aveley.

We came back and had a headed chance for Harry Gibbs as he met a Jason Raad cross, but the header looped onto the roof the net. Wyan Reid then had a dangerous run, but he just couldn't get the right connection of the cross.

Jason Raad was next to try his luck, a mazy run on a difficult surface, but he forced a save from Josh Pope, the ball landed back to him but his attempted cross was blocked and scrambled away. Alex Akrofi cut in on his left foot and took aim at the goal but it was just too close to the keeper who made another save.

Half Time | Soham Town Rangers 1-0 Aveley.

We started off the second half well and should've equalised on the 52nd minute as George Allen had a free header from 8 yards out go an inch over the crossbar for a goal kick.

Two minutes later and we were denied by the crossbar. Tom Richardson with a driving run past two players, managed to get enough space for the shot and on his left foot, he smacked the bar, so unlucky to not get his first goal since returning to The Millers.

Shad Ngandu was next to be denied as Jason Raad's corner was half-cleared to Shad who had his effort from the edge of the area punched away by Josh Pope.

Our hunt for a route back into the game seemed to take a hit as Alex Akrofi was shown a straight red card after winning the ball. A few years ago they tackle would've been applauded, but unfortunately, now it's seen as a dangerous tackle, the hosts then surrounded the referee, including the keeper who sprinted 30 yards to get involved, however, a red card was shown to Alex and we were down to ten men.

Tom Richardson was then on the receiving end of the exact same tackle by the hosts' centre half, but on this occasion, no card and not even a free-kick was given for it.

We were throwing everything at it but just didn't seem to be able to find that final ball or clinical finish. With five minutes to go, we were awarded a penalty after Tom Richardson was taken out from behind. Shad Ngandu stepped and cooly passed the ball into the net to bring us back level and hunting for the win. Soham Town Rangers 1-1 Aveley.

A minute to go and we almost won it at the death, a ball in from Jon Nzengo found Tom Richardson who did everything right, heading down to the bottom left-hand corner, but it was fingertipped to safety by Josh Pope who saved his team a point.

Full Time | Soham Town Rangers 1-1 Aveley.

Attendance | 142.

Millers XI | David Hughes, Jonathan Nzengo, Sam Mvemba, Connor Witherspoon, Harry Gibbs, George Allen, Wyan Reid (George Sykes 60), Shad Ngandu, Tom Richardson, Jason Raad (Tony Martin 80), Alex Akrofi.

Unused Subs | Alfie Hilton, Jack Mochalski.

Soham Town Rangers XI | Josh Pope, Ally Conway, Jack Willbye, Jon Kaye, Lee Chaffey, Cameron Watson, Tom Newman (Lloyd Grove 87), Lewis Clayton (Alfie Connor 80), Declan Rogers, Sam Mulready, Toby Andrews (Ryan Auger 71).

Unused Subs | Rob Mason.