Manager Justin Gardner said afterwards that he was lost for words after seeing his side take the lead early in the second half through Ross Wall only to be pegged back by Lewis Perkins.

Like has been the case for a number of matches in this losing run, the Millers then conceded a second quickly after when Spencer Harrison sliced his clearance into the Thurrock sky.

With Jack Giddens being blocked off by Charlie Stimson, the striker got a vital touch as the ball bounced to divert it into the bottom corner with Giddens left screaming for a free kick that was not forthcoming.

Ultimately though it was yet another defeat for the Millers who are now on their worst run of results since December 2011 to January 2012 when they lost six successive matches in the Ryman Premier League.

Up until that fateful few minutes where Mark Stimson's side turned defeat into victory it had been a much more resolute Aveley on display after Justin Gardner’s side had conceded four at Soham on Saturday.

The first half was short of chances for either side with Sam Holloway coming closest to opening the scoring with a free kick.

The left back did well to get his effort up and over the wall, only for it to be beaten away by the diving Reece Ottley who sprung to his left to turn the ball away for a corner.

The Millers boss would have been pleased with what he saw from his back line in the opening 45 minutes as they largely restricted the home side in front of goal.

Their only chance of note came when Charlie Stimson cut inside onto his right foot 10 minutes before half time, curling his effort just wide of the Jack Giddens near post as the two sides went into the break goalless.

After keeping the home side at arm’s length in front of their goal it was up to the Millers to be more clinical up top, and within three minutes of the game's resumption Aveley took the lead through Ross Wall.

Jay Leader intercepted a forward ball which fell kindly into the feet of Aryan Tajbakhsh. Teddy Nesbitt then received the ball before playing it inside to Rashid Kamara who threaded a delightful ball between two Thurrock defenders to find Wall goal-side, with the Millers leading goal-scorer finding the net for his eighth goal of the season.

Aveley's first half performance had deserved that sort of reward and after a mostly unforgettable half of football for any neutrals that goal meant that the game should open up as Thurrock went in search of an equaliser.

But the Millers defence, for the most part, looked untroubled. Substitute Louis Hazelwood looked to threaten an equaliser right on the hour mark as he cut inside onto his left foot well only to balloon his effort over the bar as the home side continued to fall short in front of goal.

After defeats to Tilbury, Maldon, Canvey and Soham, a second goal for the Millers would have helped settle any nerves amongst Gardner’s squad.

Nesbitt came closest to giving the away side that two goal buffer just moments after Hazelwood’s poor effort, but the left-back turned left-winger screwed his effort wide of Ottley’s near post after being played in once again by Kamara.

Until Aveley could find that illusive second goal Thurrock were always going to be in this contest, but after being so assured defensively it was going to be a huge slice of luck that would help the home side find their way back in as Lewis Perkins brought the two sides level.

A throw in from Nurudeen Kallon was headed clear by Thurrock, but only as far as Spencer Harrison. The Aveley centre back went to smash the ball back up field only for his clearance to come off the heel of Stimson, falling perfectly into the path of Jordan Clark.

Clark took one touch before playing a low ball towards the centre where substitute Perkins came steaming in to apply the finishing, finding the bottom corner and putting the home side on the front foot.

Both Gardner and Giddens said after the Soham defeat that the mentality of some of the players is that when they concede they feel the game has been lost, which is why they have tended to go on to concede again shortly after.

This theory once again reared its ugly head as two minutes after getting back on level terms, Thurrock were ahead and in fortunate circumstances once more with Harrison at the centre of it all again.

It would be harsh to levy any blame on the Millers centre half for either of the goals, but on this occasion after a cross was whipped in low from the right Harrison sliced his clearance up into the pitch black sky and towards goal.

Stimson backed into goalkeeper Giddens on the line, blocking the ‘keeper off from making an attempt on the ball and as the ball bounced Stimson got a telling touch to tap it in. Giddens and the rest of the Aveley players begged and pleaded for a foul but it never came as the goal stood.

The unfortunate Harrison was hooked shortly after as it was Aveley now who had to go searching for an equaliser, with Jason Twum replacing the centre back, but the Millers have Giddens to thank for making sure no further damage was inflicted as he done well to save from Clark after he had outmuscled Leader.

But the Millers were unable to muster that clear-cut chance that they were craving. Twum coming the closest to notching an equaliser, shooting low across his body from left to right, but Ottley gathered comfortably as Thurrock played out time to secure the win.

A visibly dejected Gardner said after the match “I’m heartbroken. It ultimately falls on me. I pick the players so I take responsibility. It’s for me to get out of it, for us to get out of it together. I’m lost for words.”

When asked what was needed to change this run of defeats around, Gardner said “We just need a point – anything.”

“Just a point, a clean sheet, anything just to grab hold of and build on. Our luck is down but I’m a big believer you earn your own luck.”

Aveley: Jack Giddens, Nurudeen Kallon, Sam Holloway, Jay Leader, Spencer Harrison (Jason Twum 81’), Brian Okwera, Teddy Nesbitt, Aryan Tajbakhsh, Ross Wall, Rashid Kamara (Aaron Gayle 74’), Michael Begg (Junior Appiah 65’)