The Millers suffered their first defeat of the season as Andy Freeman’s second half strike against his former side was enough to see off the hosts.

After a goalless first half, Freeman slotted past the onrushing David Hughes in the Aveley goal in the 63rd minute and though the Millers pushed for a late leveller with positive contributions from substitutes Alex Clark, Manny Ogunrinde and Freddie Gard, they came up short.

Manager Keith Rowland made two changes to the side which won 3-0 at Brantham Athletic at the weekend with George Winn and Harry Donovan starting in place of Jack Mochalski and Freddie Gard respectively, while James Goode returned to the matchday squad following suspension.

Brentwood included several former Millers in their matchday squad, including Freeman, James Love, Robbie Rees, Shad Ngandu and Sam Bantick, while Connor Hogan was named on the bench.

The first half proved to be a cagey affair, with neither of these sides keen to make an error or hand the other team the initiative in what would be an early indication of how the two sides will fare this season.

Neither goalkeeper was tested until 20 minutes in when Millers custodian Hughes was forced to tip over Freeman’s strike, and the resultant corner came to nothing.

For the hosts, Mitchell Gilbey was bundled over in the box by Rob Swaine, but referee Rhys Battye waved away optimistic penalty appeals.

Freeman proved to be a thorn in his former side all night, and from a free kick lofted into the box he saw his header cleared off the line by an alert Jason Ring at the back post.

As the half drew to a close, the Millers almost broke the deadlock when Wyan Reid’s free kick was nodded goalwards on the stretch by Steve Sheehan, however the effort was off target and the scores remained goalless at the break.

Half time | Aveley 0-0 Brentwood Town

Neither side made changes at the break and it was the hosts who created the first opening of the second period.

Mitchell Gilbey’s inswinging free kick just evaded the advances of the Millers attackers and it drifted just wide of Edwards’ goal.

As the game wore on, you could tell the game was likely to be decided by a single goal, and that came in the 63rd minute.

Confusion in the middle of the park between Gilbey and Donovan presented Brentwood with the opportunity to break forward.

The ball found its way to Freeman who shrugged off the Millers backline and coolly slotted underneath an advancing Hughes, much to the delight of the travelling Brentwood contingent.

The goal triggered both sides into advancing further forward, and Donovan thought he had levelled matters just five minutes later.

He raced on to a Ring throughball and slotted past Edwards, only for the linesman to raise his flag and rule the effort out for offside.

Rowland rung the changes as Ogunrinde and Gard entered the fray in place of George Sykes and Bradley Sach, and that started an upturn in fortunes for the hosts who produced much more in the final third.

Whatever the Millers threw at experienced goalkeeper Edwards though, he was able to repel, and that included a Gard effort from distance as the game entered the closing stages.

Ogunrinde was then presented with an opportunity, but Edwards remained tall and came out to block the shot.

Alex Clark was another to try his luck from range, but his effort fell just wide of the target and as the game entered stoppage time Ogunrinde saw another strike blocked by a resilient Brentwood backline.

The visitors were able to see out the four minute of stoppage time though and inflicted the Millers first defeat of the season.

Manager Keith Rowland will be hoping for a positive reaction from his side when they make the trip to Histon this weekend.

Aveley XI | David Hughes, Jason Ring, George Winn, Connor Witherspoon, Harry Gibbs, Steve Sheehan, Wyan Reid (Alex Clark 82’), Harry Donovan, George Sykes (Manny Ogunrinde 68’), Bradley Sach (Freddie Gard 68’).

Unused substitutes | Jack Mochalski, James Goode.

Cautions | Jason Ring 83’

Brentwood Town XI | Preston Edwards, Jake Gould, Andy Freeman, James Love, Rob Swaine, Josh Gray, Robbie Rees, Rob Harvey, Wilberforce Ocran (Joe Wicks 88’), Sam Bantick (Jack Dickinson 78’).

Unused substitutes | Connor Hogan, Kudus Oyenuga, Ollie Bowles.

Cautions | James Love 84’, Robbie Rees 87’

Goals | Andy Freeman 63’

Attendance | 367

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