It was a much improved performance from the Millers after Saturday’s showing against a far from full-strength Potters bar just two days previously.

The Millers showed a lot of passion and were running their hearts out for the vast majority of the game, and were looking threatening going forward without being able to have that cutting edge in the final third.

The deadlock was deservedly broken just before the break though with a goal all of his own making from Jack Stevenson, winning the ball back before getting on the end of a one two and curling a low effort into the bottom corner.

Despite not being able to get a killer second goal in the second half, the Millers looked much stronger defensively and were never really threatened by Redbridge, coasting through the second half without much incident and securing three points towards their play-off push.

After a disappointing performance against Potters Bar on Saturday, 48 hours removed Justin Gardner would have expected an immediate reaction and his side almost took the lead as quickly as they had against the Scholars when Jordan Cox got a lucky bounce to see him through.

The Millers top scorer had time to size up the opportunity, but dragged his shot wide without troubling Dean Neil in the Redbridge goal after just four minutes.

Cox again found himself in a great position to get on the score-sheet early another four minutes later, again off a lucky bounce he found himself in the area but Neil came out sharply to smother the danger blocking the first effort wide, before Cox struck the rebound against a back tracking defender.

It was an encouraging start from the Millers, who in Cox had a man seemingly possessed running around up top on his own and working hard to win every ball.

Despite the quick start from the home side, without getting that early goal meant anything that Redbridge created could make it a nervy time for the make-shift Millers back line.

Nana Asamoah almost dampened the mood considerably at Mill Field with Redbridge’s first real chance after 18 minutes when he got the wrong side of Sheldon Sellears, but under pressure from the Aveley number two he sliced his shot wide of Andy Hall’s near post.

The game was moving at a frantic pace with Junior Appiah, Ade Cole and Jack Stevenson all carrying the ball fluently, but when it came to the final pass it was lacking as Aveley couldn’t make inroads in the Redbridge back line.

Somewhat surprisingly Gbenga Sonuga came bombing forward after neat link up play in the centre and almost grabbed a surprise opener, but one again Neil was quick off his line to pounce on the ball before the big centre half could get a meaningful connection on it.

Redbridge captain Lamard Leomonius will feel he should have done better from a corner swung in from the left when a free headed was powered towards goal but wide of the target, but much like up the other end neither goalkeeper had really been tested in the opening half of this match.

No one could fault the endeavour from Gardner’s side, who in the space of the opening 45 minutes had shown more fight that that shown on Saturday, but all the hard work needed was a cutting edge and a goal to go with it.

As the half time whistle approached and the Millers looked to be going into the break frustrated once more, Jack Stevenson – one of the few who garnered any praise from the weekend’s performance – created and finished his own chance with some sheer graft and determination.

After the Millers lost the ball deep inside the Redbridge half, Stevenson powered in front of the man who'd tried carrying the ball forward down the left touch line to win the ball back.

A quick one two between himself and Petrit Elbi saw him on the edge of the area and slightly on the stretch he curled a left footed effort low past Neil to finally break the deadlock and send the home side into the lead with a deserved opener.

Just as the first half ended, the second half was full of attack and fight from the Millers, but again short of chances. Petrit Elbi though brought a good tip-over save from Neil with a long ranger that was dipping just past the hour mark.

The longer the game went on with just the goal from Stevenson separating the two sides there was likely to be some nerves shown by the home side. You also had to ask how long they could maintain the pace of the game for which at times had been played at break-neck speed.

Some more Aveley pressure provided a set piece opportunity from the right when Anthony McDonald felled Junior Appiah on the touch-line, finding his way into the referee’s notebook in the process. The free kick swung into the centre was headed just narrowly wide of the right hand post with Neil sprawling.

The second half was flying by without much incident at either end. Despite the lack of goalmouth action in the second period the referee managed to find six minutes of additional time at the end of the match with the game still so finely poised.

As the added on time ticked away some handbags ensued as Appiah and James Yeboah squared up to each other with Redbridge still fighting for an equaliser that would secure their place in the Ryman League North for next season.

After some calm had been brought to proceedings, Alex Read won a contested drop ball just inside the Aveley half which almost turned out to be a perfect through ball for another second half sub Shane Oakley.

The long punt over the top ran perfectly for Oakley, but the Millers second top-goal-scorer couldn’t quite divert the ball inside the near post to wrap up the points.

It wasn’t to matter as the referee called time on the match, putting Aveley within two points of securing a play-off position with Waltham Abbey coming to Mill Field on Wednesday night.

A buoyant Justin Gardner spoke after the game saying “what I’m proud of is that that’s the kind of team that goes on the pitch and reflects me as a manager: passion, hard work, prepared to die.

He continued by saying “Saturday (it) wasn’t there and that’s what hurt me the most. No one likes to lose, but if you lose to a better football team and you’ve given it your all I will never grumble…but Saturday there was no heart no passion and not a team that reflected me and you can see why I changed seven players today.”

Scorer of the match winner, Jack Stevenson, said after the game that the lads didn’t need to be told what was required of them tonight after Saturday’s performance and said “we all knew ourselves how disappointing it was so the gaffer didn’t need to say anything to us, we just knew we had to correct it tonight.”

“After Saturday we had to up out game massively. It was disappointing to lose the way we did, but we all dug in today, got the three points and that’s all that matters” said Stevenson.

The win now means that Aveley only require two points from their remaining two matches to secure a play-off place and both Gardner and Stevenson were both in agreement that they want that spot wrapped up as soon as possible, starting with the game on Wednesday against Waltham Abbey.

Stevenson said “the sooner the better. Get a run going into the play-offs, win our last two games and go in there on a high” whilst Gardner said “that’s what I just said to the boys, you get the three points on Wednesday we can go to Soham with a smile on our face and have a good day.”

Aveley: Andy Hall, Sheldon Sellears, Karl Blake, Jay Leader, Gbenga Sonuga (c), Danny Hopkins, Petrit Elbi (Alex Read 90'), Jack Stevenson, Jordan Cox (Paul Burnett 86'), Ade Cole (Shane Oakley 79'), Junior Appiah