Aveley 1, Braintree Town 1
AVELEY came from behind to gain a point from Saturday’s Essex Vanarama National South derby at Parkside and, in the second half of the match against ten men, may feel they ought to have gone on and won.
The visitors made a very bright start and had already created several chances, including forcing a good save from Jonathan North and Nana Kyei clearing the ball off the line, before they took the lead after just five minutes when Matt Carson shot from the edge of the box and the ball took a deflection on its way into the net.
Millers gradually began to improve and offer threats of their own but they went into the break a goal behind without ever really creating a goalscoring opportunity.
The half was extended for a lengthy head injury to Iron’s Joe Grimwood who was also booked for hauling down Alex Hernandez – both incidents that were to prove significant in the second half.
The start of the second stanza was delayed while Grimwood received more treatment, eventually being ordered off the playing surface to get the game underway. When he was ready, he entered play without permission and the ref was left with little alternative but to caution him, and thereby send him off before he was even properly on!
From then on Braintree put men behind the ball and relied on counter attacks, allowing Millers to take the initiative.
They were the dominant side but found it difficult to break down Braintree until, with around 20 minutes to go Tom Stephen’s shot was spilled by Iron’s keeper and former Blackpool player Jack Sims and Matt Rush reacted quickly to fire the ball home.
