Ryman Div On eNorth
Aveley 1 v 1 Bowers and Pitsea
Photo by Claire Collinson
An intense game at Mill Field which saw two teams outside the playoffs separated by four points go toe-to-toe for 90 plus minutes which ended 1-1.
The visitors started the better of the two teams; Brad Warner stung the hands of the Millers goalkeeper, then Fahad Nyanja blasted over when well placed.
The recently-returned Jamie Salmon was kept out by goalkeeper Clarke Bogard before the visitors went in front. Lewis Clark sent a long throw into the penalty area and the advancing Ross Adams flicked into the corner of the net.
But from that goal, the Millers took command of the game and got back on level terms almost instantly. Millers top scorer Mason Bloomfield received the ball on the edge of the area and fired home.
There were two more chances left in the first half. First Bowers’ Jamie Salmon fired over the bar after winning the ball back in the Millers half. Ross Gleed then had a go for Aveley with his effort saved well by Bowers shot stopper Rhys Madden.
The Millers did everything but score in the second half as the visitors dug deep to deny Aveley all three points. Rhys Madden pulled off a couple of great saves from close range efforts as everything but the ball seemed to go in the back of the net throughout the second half.
Back to back to back corners went into the Bowers penalty area but a mix of missed opportunities and great defending denied the Millers a goal.
Max Mitchell on his full Aveley debut was denied by a finger tipped save for a corner. That resulting corner was eventually scrambled clear for another corner as Aveley kept pushing for the full three points.
Another long ranged effort, this time from Billy Coyne was put behind for a corner which was just headed wide of the right hand post by the on-rushing Harry Gibbs.
Mathias Bakare put in a couple of dangerous balls which again were defended well and headed away and behind for more Aveley corners.
From the second corner George Woodward and Tommy Spillane threw themselves at the ball but were denied when a free-kick was awarded and both George Woodward and Bowers & Pitsea keeper Rhys Madden were shown yellow cards.
A decent run by Mathias Bakare crossed to Mason Bloomfield whose effort was deflected to Michael Toner who saw his effort tipped over the crossbar. From that corner the Millers claimed the ball had crossed the line during a goal mouth scramble. Those shouts were waved away by the referee and his assistant just before the ball was smashed clear.
A sucker punch almost was delivered as new signing for Bowers & Pitsea, Loui Hazlewood, fired wide from close range. The ball ended up with Brad Warner whose cross fortunately missed everyone in the Aveley box.
But that was the end of the drama and both teams had to settle for a point, when both teams really wanted to post another three to the board.
The games don’t get any easier for the Millers as they travel to Ryman North title contenders Brightlingsea Regent next Saturday
Aveley: Clarke Bogard, Billy Coyne, George Woodward, Dan Odamo, Tommy Spillane, Harry Gribbs, Matty Bakare (Jordan Peart 83), Matt Mitchell, Mason Bloomfield (Jeremiah Maja 79), Michael Toner, Ross Glead.
Scorer – Mason Bloomfield (34′)
Bowers & Pitsea: Rhys Madden, Ross Adams, Sam Cross, Martyn Stokes, Lewis Clark, Aaron Russell. Fahad Nyanja (Billy Jones 62), Jamie Salmon (Loui Hazlewood 58), David Knight, Brad Warner, Alfie Hinton (Ross Johnson 76).
Scorer – Ross Adams (30′)
