Millers Defeated In Emirates FA Cup

In what was a difficult week for the football club with the surprise resignation of manager Danny Dafter the Millers needed to pick themselves up against Barking in order to try to progress against a former manager Justin Gardner and his dogged Barking side.

Unfortunately for the Millers we couldn't defeat Barking and were dumped out of the FA Cup. It was our first goal in the competition since Wednesday 30th of September 2015 where we triumphed in an FA Cup replay against Horsham YMCA but were defeated by National South side Havant & Waterlooville 2-0 at Mill Field in the 3rd Qualifying Round. since that Havant defeat we have lost to Hornchurch 1-0 in 2016/17, AFC Sudbury 4-0 in 2017/18 and Potters Bar 2-0 last season.

We started the game well against Barking after good from and link up between Shad Ngandu and Alex Akrofi but it was cleared away well by the towering Joe Bruce. On 15 minutes Alex Akrofi tried his luck as he looked to catch the former Aveley loanee Mitchell Ware out and find the near post, but the keeper was on hand to make a save down to his right hand side.

Three minutes after that effort and the Millers found themselves behind. the shot from former Miller Emmanuel Ighorae was brilliantly saved from David Hughes, only for another former Millers Johnny Ashman to tap in the rebound to put the hosts in front. Barking 1-0 Aveley.

Wyan Reid was next to try his luck as he skillfully dribbled past a couple of players only to see his shot saved well from Mitchell Ware and again hooked clear by Joe Bruce.

Alex Akrofi looked dangerous and used his pace to get to the edge of the Barking area only to be cynically taken out by Sam Owusu. Akrofi picked himself up to take the free-kick but curled it just over the crossbar.

Connor Witherspoon won the ball back well, found Aaron Condon who took a snapshot towards goal, which went just wide of the left hand post.

Just before half time the Millers should've had a penalty for a clear handball. The ball came into the six yard box and it was cleared away by the hand of a Barking player which stopped George Allen getting on the end of it, but unfortunately it wasn't spotted by the officials.

Half Time | Barking 1-0 Aveley.

Fifteen minutes into the second half and the Millers pulled themselves level scoring out first goal in the competition for over four years as Sam Mvemba crossed for Wyan Reid whose movement into the box managed to get on the end of it and find the bottom left hand corner of the goal. Barking 1-1 Aveley.

The Millers tails were up, but two minutes later we were behind again, a ball through our defence found Nana Boakye-Yiadom who finished superbly into the bottom right hand corner. Barking 2-1 Aveley.

For the last 25 minutes of the game, we didn't create any real chances. Connor Witherspoon had a half chance which he put just wide of the left hand post, but even with six minutes added on time, we couldn't break down Barking.

Full Time | Barking 2-1 Aveley.

Attendance | 198.

Millers XI | David Hughes, Wyan Reid, Sam Mvemba, Sam Cross, Harry Gibbs (Jake Pitty 65), George Allen, James Love, Connor Witherspoon, Aaron Condon, Shad Ngandu (Kane Hearn 90), Alex Akrofi.

Unused Subs | Reggie Hubbard, Jack Mochalski, Luke Foster, Dan Blockley (GK).

Barking XI | Mitchell Ware, Ricky Tarbard, Jack Roult, Ryan Mallet, Joe Bruce, Daniel Flemming (Jack Hayes 73), Sam Owusu, Kojo Apenteng (Abs Seymour 83), Nana Boakye-Yiadom, Emmanuel Ighorae (Fahad Nyanja 67), Johnny Ashman.

Unused Subs | Donnell Anderson, Theo Fairweather-Johnson, Jed Chouman, Albert Akinremi.