Millers defeat Rovers

Goals from Alex Akrofi, Amir Berkane and Harry Gibbs were just about enough to see of Great Wakering Rovers.

The Millers were without leading scorer Tom Richardson due to injury so in came Bobby Vaughan for his first start for the club, he was joined in the starting eleven by David Hughes who returned from suspension.

The game couldn't have got off to a better start with Andy Freeman getting wide, crossing the ball into the six yard box for Alex Akrofi to tap home our first goal of the game inside 60 seconds. Great Wakering Rovers 0-1 Aveley.

Two minutes later the game should've been all but done from our point of view, Conor Mead centered to Alex Akrofi who was denied by a great save, it bounced back up in the air for Andy Freeman who just couldn't get the proper connection on the ball to take it into the goal and the chance was gone.

After those brilliant three minutes, we didn't do much else in the first half and it was the hosts applying the pressure. The hosts almost leveled inside ten minutes when Tony Martin flicked the ball on from a dangerous free-kick toward goal, and it would've gone in if it wasn't for a terrific save from the returning David Hughes, who managed to fly across his goal and fingertip the ball past the post.

Wiggins was next to have a chance for Rovers, but after Barnwell slipped him in, he blasted the ball over the crossbar when he probably should've scored or at least hit the target.

Throughout the game we kept giving away silly free-kicks, and with the aerial threat the hosts possessed it could've meant disaster, but the Millers largely remained strong defended most well. Shomari Barnwell managed to pin one of our defenders, turn to his left foot and shoot a ball wide of David Hughes' left hand post.

Mid-way through the first half we almost doubled our lead, a free-kick from Jason Raad was met by the head of Alex Akrofi who headed onto the roof of the net under pressure.

The hosts did ramp up the pressure on the Aveley goal from free-kicks and corners as our goal carried on living a charmed life until the end of the first half.

Half Time | Great Wakering Rovers 0-1 Aveley.

It was a bright start to the second half from the Millers with Andy Freeman denied by the keeper within two minutes and after back to back corners the danger was cleared.

The hosts keeper had a let off on the 50th minute as he handled the ball outside the area as he slid to collect the ball and ended up outside the box, but unfortunately unseen by the linesmen 10 foot away.

Five minutes after that incident and we doubled our lead. Alex Akrofi played through Amir Berkane who made an intelligent run forward into the Rovers box and finished well as he found the bottom right hand corner of the goal. Great Wakering Rovers 0-2 Aveley.

Just before the hour mark we had two glorious chances to really end the game, and both should’ve been taken. Bobby Vaughan on his debut connected with a Conor Mead cross into the box but he was denied by point blank range by the Rovers’ keeper, the next attack, after brilliant build up play ended with Andy Freeman crossing to Jason Raad who had his diving header flash past the post.

Sam Mvemba then had a chance but again the hosts keeper denied us from putting the game out of sight.

Unfortunately we were made to rue those chances, a free-Kick was given away on the edge of our area, and up stepped ex-Miller Tony Martin (who else) who stroked the ball into the bottom corner of the goal. Great Wakering Rovers 1-2 Aveley.

We didn’t have to wait long to get our two goal lead back as Jason Raad’s corner was met by a thunderous volley from Harry Gibbs who smashed the ball into the net. Great Wakering Rovers 1-3 Aveley.

Going into the last ten minutes of the game and the visitors were looking to throw as many bodies forward as possible, Wiggins saw his looping header flick the top of the crossbar, and then David Hughes made a finger tip save to push away a long ranged effort.

The hosts did pull a goal back deep into added on time, it first looked like the cross came into the box and was met by the arm of an offside Tony Martin. But instead it was flicked on by an Aveley defender which was then put into the goal by the ex-Miller again, Tony Martin for his and Rovers second of the game. But in the end it was too little too late for the hosts as the Millers got a much needed three points.

Full Time | Great Wakering Rovers 2-3 Aveley.

Millers XI | David Hughes, Conor Mead, Sam Mvemba, James Love, Harry Gibbs, Connor Witherspoon, Jason Raad (Marcus Milner 72), Amir Berkane, Bobby Vaughan (Reggie Hubbard 63), Andy Freeman (Loui Hazelwood 77), Alex Akrofi.

Unused Subs | Wyan Reid, Shad Ngandu.

Great Wakering XI | Louis Hawes, Jason Ring, Eljay Worrell, George Cox, Ryan O’Rawe (Macaulay Joynes 25), Simon Glover, Matthew Rush (Joshua Wiggins 58), William Harris, Shomari Barnwell (Stephen Butterworth 77), Tony Martin, Jacob Wiggins.

Unused Subs | N/A.