The Millers gave full debuts to both Morisi Gelashvili and striker David Knight as Aveley defeated Witham Town 4-2 at Parkside.

We started the game on top, and inside ten minutes could’ve been awarded a penalty after Connor Witherspoon was taken down inside the box after he made a run into the box, the referee waved away protests. A few minutes later we were awarded a penalty, potentially soft and only given after not awarding the clearer foul on Witherspoon minutes prior, but Steve Sheehan was fouled in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. George Sykes stepped up and powered it past former-Miller Rhys Madden in the Witham goal. Aveley 1-0 Witham.

The Millers continued to dominate the ball and it seemed just a smarter of time before we doubled our lead and on 22 minutes we did exactly that. After good work down the right-hand side shots from David Knight and George Sykes were blocked it eventually fell to Alex Clark at the back post, and under pressure, he fired home into the roof of the net. Aveley 2-0 Witham.

The visitors didn’t create much in the first half of the game but did manage to pull a goal back, Dan McCullock got in down the left-hand side pulled it across to Usman Adenji who didn’t get a great connection on the ball, but managed to squeeze the ball under David Hughes and the ball went into the goal in slow motion to pull Witham within a goal of The Millers. Aveley 2-1 Witham.

We had a couple of decent chances to increase our lead in the second half, Alex Clark came close but has his effort deflected wide right of the goal. David Knight was lively as ever as his and George Sykes partnership grew as the game went on as they connected for George Sykes to be denied by Rhys Madden.

Half Time | Aveley 2-1 Witham Town.

We continued to carve more chances out as Freddie Gard, Mitch Gilbey and Alex Clark worked well together creating efforts on goal and providing chances for David Knight and George Sykes. Alex Clark was denied his second of the game after Rhys Madden finger-tipped theatrically over the crossbar.

Five minutes after that superb save we got our third of the match. Brilliant build-up football, from back to front which ended with Freddie Gard playing a lovely reverse through ball to George Sykes who connected to find the bottom left-hand corner. Aveley 3-1 Witham.

David Knight on his debut wouldn’t be denied a debut goal, two minutes after Sykes scored our third, David Knight finished to score our fourth. Alex Clark down the left-hand side centered to David Knight who applied the finish to seal The Millers victory. Aveley 4-1 Witham.

Three minutes after we made it 4-1, Witham had the chance from the penalty spot to reduce the arrears. Jason Ring dived into a tackle on Dan McCullock and just mistimed it and a penalty was awarded. Usman Adenji stepped up and was denied by the legs of David Hughes.

Former-Miller Dan McCullock was then shown a red card after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.

The action didn’t stop there as Witham’s Keeper Rhys Madden kept the score down with more acrobatic saves. First to deny George Sykes and then to palm behind an Alex Clark effort on goal.

It was so close to being five for Aveley as David Knight searched for his second goal of the game, he took a touch and curled towards the bottom left-hand corner but his effort cracked the left-hand post and bounced to safety.

With five minutes to go the visitors pulled a goal back, a free-kick in from the right-hand side of the pitch come to David Hughes who saved it initially but Greg Akepele poked it home from close range. Aveley 4-2 Witham.

Full Time | Aveley 4-2 Witham Town.

Attendance | 318.

Millers XI | David Hughes, Jason Ring, Morisi Gelashvili, Connie Witherspoon (Jack Mochalski 75), George Allen, Steve Sheehan, Mitchell Gilbey, Freddie Gard, George Sykes, David Knight, Alex Clark.

Unused Subs | Bradley Sach, George Winn, Jack Chanwer, Alex Bragg.

Witham Town XI | Rhys Madden, Billy Willis, Liam Whipps, Nathan Okoye, Kye Jude, Joe Mackenzie (Jordi Papple 75), Unman Adeniji (Declan Nche 64), Julian Simon-Parson, Greg Akpele, Oliver Bell, Dan McCullock.

Unused Subs | Elliott Capel, Charlie Portway, Khadean Campbell.