A 55th minute strike from Wealdstone midfielder Kieran Forbes was the difference between the two sides as Aveley boss Carl Griffiths fell to his first defeat as Millermen boss reports The Essex Enquirer
Aveley have climbed out of the relegation zone and for a large portion of this game dominated Weladstone who sit on the edge of the play off places.
The hosts were rewarded for their efforts in getting the Ryman Premier game on by outplaying a Millers side featuring six of the new signings made by recently-appointed manager Carl Griffiths.
The writing was on the wall as early as the sixth minute, when Peter Dean curled a shot against the bar. Greg Ngoyi had already found the net only to be ruled offside, a fate he was to suffer again later in the half.
The pattern of the match was set, with Stones carving open the visiting defence with some lovely passing, much of it orchestrated by masterful midfield man Kieron Forbes, only to fail to finish off the approach work. They came closest by accident, when Aveley keeper David McCartney was inches away from dragging a low cross by Chris O’Leary into his own net.
Stones goalie Jonathan North had to dive to save a shot by Sherwin Stanley in the 41st minute, the first time he had been troubled, and it looked as if the half would finish goalless.
It did, but not before some late drama. With the clock showing 44min 50sec, a careless lunge by Spencer Harrison upended Stones winger Danny Spendlove in the box and referee Steven Rea had the easiest of decisions to make, duly pointing to the spot. Then, after consulting his assistant, he showed Harrison a red card which seemed harsh given that Spendlove had lost control of the ball before the foul.
After the Aveley defender had left the pitch, Peter Dean stepped up but fired his penalty against the foot of McCartney’s left-hand post.
The deadlock was broken in the 56th minute when Forbes, who had scored his first goal for Stones five days earlier, found himself free in the box and beat McCartney at his near post with a low drive.
Alan Massey was a bootlace away from converting a James Hammond cross before Forbes sent Ngoyi clear to make it 2-0 in the 79th minute.
Ross Wall forced another save from North and Millers were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Luke Stanley was tripped in the box only for a free-kick to be given just outside the area for an earlier foul.
A few decisions might have gone against the visitors but they could have no complaints at the result and in the end were probably lucky to escape so lightly.
