In what was a sickening way to go out of a competition which benefits clubs like us so much financially it was the Millers who really controlled the majority of the first half.

Early on Michael Pindy was put through on goal with a ball over the top from Michael Finneran, he chipped the oncoming Chafer but Nathan Cooper got back just in time to clear the ball to safety.

But the Millers kept on coming, back to back corners were just cleared by a combination of Callum Chafer and Dave Collis.

Emmanuel Ighorae was next to come within a whisker of us taking the lead in this FA Cup tie. He drifted past Hornchurch left back Jandir Da Cruz, and Emmanuel’s cross come shot zipped past the post.

After more good work from Emmanuel Ighorae he was taken out by Da Cruz and Abs Seymour lined up a free-kick. But on this occasion he cracked the crossbar leaving the keeper stranded as he watched it fly over his head, but again the Millers were unlucky not to be in front within the first 30 minutes at Mill Field.

Another free-kick saw us come close again, chipped into the box by Abs Seymour, nodded back by Perry Dunn for Richie Danquan, but Richie just couldn’t direct it on target.

Hornchurch slowly started to get a foothold nearer the end of the first half and did come close on a couple of occasions. Perry Dunn did well to deny George Purcell by heading the ball over the bar, followed by Richard Robins saving well from Nathan Cooper, and Billy Coyne was in the right place at the right time and cleared the ball off the line from a David Knight hook towards goal.

Half Time | Aveley 0-0 AFC Hornchurch

In the second half, Hornchurch were more on top, but it felt pretty comfortable as we didn't really have to do much in the terms of shots on goal.

A long ranged header from Alex Bentley almost seemed to catch the keeper out, but Robins did well to catch it before it went into the top corner. George Purcell tried his luck with a long ranged free kick which was well held by Robins after a little juggle.

Not much else in the way of clear cut chances really come along as Hornchurch continued to probe our defence, but we were holding strong. But the game was won in the most sickening way, a pass back to Richie Robins got stuck under our keepers feet, he couldn’t kick it away and ex-Miller Abs Thompson slid in to tackle the ball into the goal to give the visitors the lead. 0-1.

To try and get back into the tie Sherwin Stanley came on for his 100th appearance in an Aveley top. And Arian Retkoceri came on for his first appearance of the season after returning from being away.

Hornchurch’s Kenzer Lee could’ve really put the tie out of site later on but he wasted two chances, the first a back post header which he nodded just wide. And the second an acrobatic effort that went over the bar.

The Millers huffed and puffed but just couldn’t get any attacks really going as Hornchurch broke up the play very well to stop any momentum that we had.

Emmanuel Ighorae showed sparks late on and fired a volley over from the edge of the area after a Billy Coyne long throw eventually found him, but that was the last chance of the match.

An unfortunate way to go out of the FA Cup but an improved performance from Tuesday Night’s defeat at Phoenix Sports.

Attendance | 171

Aveley XI | Richie Robins, Michael Finneran, Frankie Sinclair (Arian Retkoceri 70), Billy Coyne, Perry Dunn, Richard Danquan (Daniel McCullock 84), Jack Edwards, Abs Seymour (C), Michael Pindy (Sherwin Stanley 74), Emmanuel Ighorae, Andres Losada-Tobon.

Unused Subs | Alexandre Maitrepierre, Harry Gibbs, Jordan Peart.

Hornchurch XI | Callum Chafer, Dave Collis, Jandir Da Cruz, Elliott Stlyes, Nathan Cooper, James Morrish (Jed Chouman 77), Alex Bentley (Abs Thompson 63), Kenzer Lee, David Knight, George Purcell (Leon McKenzie 78), George Woodward.

Unused Subs | Ricky Freeman, Ayrton Coley, Jamie Hursit, Nicky Symons.

Man of the Match | Frankie Sinclair