Essex Senior Cup: 4th round
Aveley took a notable scalp as they beat title-chasing conference south side Braintree Town reports Colin Mumford from the Aveley fc website.
Carl Griffith may have been happier if it was three points in the league, but the Aveley boss was delighted with the all-round team performance and clean sheet in their 2-0 win over former manager Rod Stringer’s Braintree Town side in the Essex Senior Cup on Wednesday night.
Braintree came with a strong looking side, only leaving out top goalscorer Sean Marks, and were found out with two set pieces making the difference.
“The boys who haven’t been performing since the Croydon Athletic game which has been disappointing,” said Griffiths.
“And honestly I couldn’t ask for any more of the boys tonight from start to finish, the boys are absolutely shattered and it is a credit from Macca (David McCartney) in goal to Josh (Llewellyn) up front.
“I am pleased with the 2-0 – I am more pleased with the clean sheet, as we haven’t kept one since the Croydon Athletic game.
“Actually I would have took three points Saturday, but we build on tonight, and we can only better what we did tonight confidence and team spirit wise.”
There was little action in a quiet first half as neither side imposed themselves on the game, but the hosts got themselves in front just at the right time.
Deep into first half stoppage time, Kenny Beaney’s deep free kick was met by the head of Spencer Harrison and he duly thumped it past a static Nathan McDonald.
Stringer’s side had two early opportunities in the second half as both Jamie Guy and Jack Clarke were denied by an inspired David McCartney.
Guy then fought he had found an equaliser only to see the lineman raise his flag for offside, and this seemed to ingite the Mill Field outfit even more.
Danny Slatter was booked for a very late challenge on Ryan Peters, but Griffiths’ men put the result to bed after 81 minutes when Josh Llewellyn’s pace and persistence finally paid off as he nicked the ball off of the Braintree defence, before finding the surging run of Andy Howell who headed past a stranded McDonald.
The Irons night was summed up in the second minute of added on time when a frustrated former Miller, Bradley Quinton dived in on Spencer Harrison earning a straight red card, which sets Aveley up for the visit of Carshalton Athletic in Ryman Premier action at the weekend.
“We look forward to Carshalton on Saturday, hopefully we’ll come through without any injuries, seen a bad tackle on Spence (Spencer Harrison) towards the end there,” said Griffiths.
“But the win will breed confidence amongst the lads and hopefully we can take that into Saturday.”
Aveley: David McCartney, Ryan Andrews, Luke Sutton, Tony Russell, Spencer Harrison, Kenny Beaney, Danny Slatter, Andy Howell, Sherwin Stanley, Josh Llewellyn, Luke Stanley (Charlie Read 75).
