TWO GOALS in the stoppage time gave Aveley an unlikely victory at Hartsdown Park.
The Millers’ looked a tired team for the majority but sparked into life to keep their play-off ambitions alive when Danny Gabriel slotted home his first in Aveley colours in the fourth minute of five added on.
Margate started the brighter of the two sides and dominated the opening minutes.
Adam Bailey-Dennis had to be alert to block James Pinnock’s shot from close range but parity did not last much longer.
Aveley skipper Ryan Doyle brought down Sam Jones and Nicky Barnes stepped up and gave Iain O’Connell’s men a vital lead.
Sherwin Stanley replaced Junior Dadson and his arrival sparked an instant improvement with the visitors going close twice.
Ryan Edgar’s deflected shot was pushed behind by Jamie Turner but Steve Butterworth was to go even closer in the last minute of the half as he chased Nicky Symons’ ball over the top but his shot went just wide of the target.
The second half started slowly but Stanley was denied by Turner when his header from Butterworth’s cross looked goal bound.
And they finally got level when Butterworth’s deep free kick found Martin Tuohy at the back post and the striker poked the ball past Turner.
With ten minutes remaining Gate had a golden opportunity to restore their lead but after rising high his header fell the wrong side of the post.
But the Millers gifted the home side the lead with five minutes to go when skipper Jay Saunders arrived unmarked at the back post and shot low past Ollie Morris-Sanders.
It all looked over for Aveley but they somehow levelled when Matt Johnson’s long throw in was headed goalwards by Stanley and Dan Young converted into his own net.
Many would have settled for a draw but on the counter attack Stanley paced down the wing and delivered the ball in to an unmarked Gabriel who composed himself and shot low past Turner to spark scenes of jubilation on the visitors bench and leave Margate hanging on to their Ryman Premier status with only two matches left, whilst others around them have games in hand.
Aveley: Ollie Morris-Sanders, Wayne Semanshia (Tony Russell 66), Sam Holloway, Nicky Symons, Ryan Doyle, Adam Bailey-Dennis, Junior Dadson (Sherwin Stanley 34), Ryan Edgar, Martin Tuohy (Danny Gabriel 83), Steve Butterworth.
Subs not used: Darren Quinton, Alfie Dady.
