The Millers started where they left off against Dereham Town and pressed well in the early stages against a Hanwell Town side, who have started the season off with two superb wins against Egham Town and Bedfont Sports. The Millers didn't have a game last Saturday due to Bowers' pitch not being ready yet, so we hosted Essex Senior League side West Essex in a friendly and dispatched them 8-2.

It only took 8 minutes for the Millers to score ad take the lead in this Velocity Trophy Preliminary Round, and it was Tom Richardson who scored it, the ball was played into the box, it bounced to Tom who reacted quickest and he shifted the ball past the keeper. Aveley 1-0 Hanwell Town.

Hanwell reacted well to going behind and put us under a little bit of pressure with a few long range efforts coming from the lively Myles Stephenson, who is a member of the X-Factor band Rak Su.

Sheldon Sellears looked lively on his second Millers debut, having made 29 appearances, scoring one goal on his first sint with the club in the 2013/14 campaign. He nutmegged the left back pulled it back to Alex Akrofi who had his effort cleared off the line and go behind for a corner. From the resulting corner, we were inches away from doubling our lead, George Doyle swung it in, the Hanwell keeper came and totally missed his punch, and it went just wide of the left hand post.

In the 20th minute we almost scored again, but this time after a nice play from Tom Rihardson who played it to Andy Freeman, Freeman was denied by a fine save from Hanwell's keeper.

Six minutes later we were forced into a change as Sheldon Sellears was limping and his second debut was put to an end and on came Freddie Gard.

The last fifteen minutes of the first half was a strange game, there was a lot of decisions both ways that were a bit strange. Alex Akrofi almost had his shirt pulled off his back but nothing was given, minutes later George Doyle was hauled to the floor on the edge of the area but the free-kick went the other way.

But in the 42nd minute the Millers put some daylight in-between ourselves and Hanwell. Alex Akrofi used his blistering pace to get in behind, beat the on-coming keeper to the ball square it to Tom Richardson who chested it into the goal. Aveley 2-0 Hanwell Town.

Half Time | Aveley 2-0 Hanwell Town.

The visitors were sent out early after their first half showing and they pushed us back for the first five minutes of the game, but after that we had a couple of great chances. George Doyle had an effort from a tight angle which was saved by the keeper, however, he might've been better to pull it back to Tom Richardson on that occasion.

Tom Richardson was to be denied again, this time a goal-line clearance, Andy Freeman did well to cross the ball into the back-post to Richardson whose effort which was goal-bound was blocked on the line by Harry Tamplin.

With ten minutes to go George Doyle tried his luck from 20 yards out with a well struck effort going towards the bottom corner, unfortunately a fine save tipped it round the post to keep it 2-0.

The last five minutes the visitors had a couple of half chances, but it was all quite routine for Rhys Madden as he was tested that much throughout the game.

Next up for the Millers is the first round of the Velocity Trophy at home to Cheshunt, tie to be played before September 20th.

Millers XI | Rhys Madden, Garrett Kelly, Sam Mvemba (Chris Bourne 67), James Love, Harry Gibbs, Sam Cross, Andy Freeman, George Doyle, Tom Richardson (Marcus Milner 77), Sheldon Sellears (Freddie Gard 26), Alex Akrofi.

Unused Subs | Alex Teniola, Shad Ngandu.

Hanwell Town XI | Brendan Hazlett, Gabby Adelowo (Oliver Duffy 45), Jack Waldren, Harry Tamplin, Devante McKain, Declan Nche (Ibrahim Olutade 45), Charlie Barton, Calum Duffy, Myles Stephenson (Gareth Chendlik 72), Arsen Ujkaj, Dean McDonnell.

Unused Subs | Glen Yala, Louis Bircham.