Ryman Div One North
Aveley 1 v 3 AFC Hornchurch
THE Urchins started the strongest on the night a Joey May free kick found its way all the way across the box and just missed the post and went out for a goal kick.
In the visitors next attack they took the lead. David Knight was left one-on-one with Perry Dunn, and the experienced striker got past him and rounded James Marrable to tap into the back of the net. Aveley 0-1 AFC Hornchurch
From ten minutes on the Millers controlled the game and really should’ve levelled. The ball was crossed into the back post with Liam Nash unmarked at the back post, he volleyed towards goal but it was well saved by Urchins shot-stopper Sam Mott.
Sam Mott denied Aveley yet again as James Peagram found himself in-behind but his shot along the ground was saved by the Urchins keeper. Seconds later a cross into the front post was headed just wide by Millers top scorer Liam Nash.
The Urchins came within inches of doubling their lead. Ex-Miller Billy Coyne crossed well from the right hand side to set up David Knight for his second but he headed wide of the target from six yards out.
That haunted the Urchins as Aveley went up the other end and got their deserved equaliser. A corner from the right hand side was flicked on at the near post across the goal for Petrit Elbi to tap in. Aveley 1-1 AFC Hornchurch.
Two minutes later another long ball caught the Millers out. Played long by Johnson gave it to George Purcell, he moved outside of the area on the far side and caught James Marrable and everyone at Mill Field by surprise with a sumptuous lobbed shot, the ball dipped superbly into the bottom corner. Aveley 1-2 Hornchurch.
Half Time- Millers 1-2 Urchins
Goal- 4- 0-1 Knight
Goal- 31- 1-1 Petrit Elbi
Goal- 33- 1-2 Purcell
Yellow- Millers- 44- Abs Seymour
Yellow- Urchins- 45- May
The Millers came out on the front foot in the second half. Paul Preston crossed in from the right, the ball landed to Marcus Elliott and his explosive shot smacked the underside of the bar and down onto the line and cleared to safety.
Abs Thompson broke away as the game started to open up for both sides, his shot was parried well by James Marrable, in a string of saves as Knight and Purcell were both stopped in quick succession.
Hornchurch began to dominate the chances and soon after it paid off. George Purcell was given the ball by Joey May, he was allowed to run and run into the Millers penalty area, and Purcell punished the defenders as he smashed into the bottom corner to give the Urchins a cushion. Aveley 1-3 AFC Hornchurch.
The Millers did well for two thirds of the game but just couldn’t create those clear cut chances until the last five minutes. Liam Nash rounded the keeper but saw his shot cleared off the line by Danny Johnson. Moments later an Ahmed Deen free kick was flicked on brilliantly by Liam Nash but this time his headed effort flicked the top of the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.
Full Time- Millers 1-3 Urchins
Yellow- Urchins- 87- Johnson
Yellow- Urchins- 88- Poku
Millers- James Marrable, Paul Preston, Ahmed Deen (C), Junior Baker, Perry Dunn, Abs Seymour, Liam Nash, Joe Pearman (David Fallah 59), James Peagram (Arian Retkoceri 64), Petrit Elbi, Marcus Elliott (Lee Weemes 81).
Unused subs- Luke Stanley, Brian Okwera.
