Aveley 2-2 Newham FC

On a lovely summers evening, the Millers took on a very good Newham team who set out to cause an upset and defeat Aveley.

Straight from the kick off tackles flew in from both sets of teams. There was great closing down by Newham’s front attacking line, which led to a miss-communication between Kamara and James Marrable, leading to Newham’s number 19 closing the ball down but only to deflect off him for a goal kick.

Aveley’s first chance of the game came in the 4th minute, where a lovely passing build up from Elbi and Knott, eventually the ball was played back to Knott, he crossed it as it almost flew into the net apart from a good push behind from Newham’s goalkeeper.

The pitch we played on was very tight and compact, leading to the early stages being very difficult for both teams to keep the ball. The next passage of play was a nice little interchange by the Newham’s front line that put their number 9 in-behind Aveley’s backline, instead of staying on his feet Centre Back Kamara committed himself to a diving tackle, missed the ball but managed to take the attacker down, it looked like a certain penalty and possibly a red card, however the referee waved play on.

Sammy Knott was then fouled in the 9th minute. Billy Coyne whipped in a great cross in, it landed to Elbi who headed it just the wrong side of the post. Minutes later another foul on Aveley, this time on Marcus Elliot, the foul occurred more central then the previous free-kick. Billy Coyne lined it up once more he curled it around the wall but this time just didn’t curl it enough to have it nestled in the back of the net.

Elbi then collected the ball and ran with it as he fended off two Newham defenders, shot with his left foot, but it went harmlessly wide of the Newham goal, it remained 0-0 after 25 minutes.

In open play it was near impossible for both sides not putting any passes together. Aveley looked the more dangerous through set-pieces and long throw-ins. Coyne took a long-throw, that went across the goal in what seemed to be slow-motion, but no-one could get on the end of it to win the ball, however it was finally nodded behind by the Newham defence for a corner.

Newham did have their chances as well, as they countered and hassled the Millers backline creating a chance for their number 7 who just fired over the bar. This was a warning that Aveley were still in a very competitive game although the Millers had really controlled the game up until then. The ball then came in by the Newham right back, landing to their dangerous number 7 once again, but he had his back facing Kamara, he turned well, got a shot off but was blocked very well by Baker and Kamara at the back denying the opening goal.

Three minutes before half-time the ball was played back to James Marrable, who had a heavy first touch that went into the path of the Newham’s number 9, who pinched it off James then being able to roll the ball into the open goal. That goal made it Aveley 0-1 Newham on the 44th minute.

The added on time of the first half provided two big chances for Aveley to get straight back level. Another long throw by Billy Coyne came in, the Newham goal keeper flapped at it, and it went behind for another corner, but it that corner was eventually cleared and the half time whistle sounded.

HALF TIME.

The second half began and with lots of changes, which made the game take a long time to get back to an eventful one. One of the first chances of the first half was created by Perry Tamburrini putting in a lovely curled cross with his right foot, which was just out of reach of Danny Francis. Was very unlucky, deserved a finish with the quality of movement from Francis and the ball in from Perry.

After the 60th minute mark the game got a bit rough and more challenges flew in. Perry flew into a tackle on Newham’s Left back. Which Newham’s number 3 getting up from the challenge and then pushed his own face into that of Perry’s, because of the tackle and the reaction to it, both players were given yellow cards (only cautions of the game).
68 minutes of the clock, when another long throw came into the box but this time by Newham, James comes out and shouts to catch the ball but Newham’s lively number 11, came and nipped in and nodded the ball past Marrable, which made it Aveley 0-2 Newham, with about twenty minutes left on the clock.

But Aveley did come back very strongly, the change of the formation to a more attack-minded one of 4-4-2. Few minutes passed on the clock with patient build up play by Aveley. The ball was then fought well in the middle of the pitch by Hopkins, he played the ball out wide, the ball was eventually crossed in, it was flicked past the goalkeeper by Danny Francis, but Neil John made sure it crossed the line by a tap into the goal. Aveley 1-2 Newham, 77th minute.

Another chance was carved out by the Aveley midfield, which landed perfectly for Lee Weemes, who connected the volley beautifully but deflected by the Newham defence for a corner. The corner came in headed out to the edge of the area but despite a nice turn and shot the ball was diverted wide with ten minutes left.

The time went into the 90th minute and what was the last kick of the game, was a lovely turn and shot by Danny Francis went that found its way into the bottom corner but went through a hole in the net. The Newham players demonstrated it was not a goal and pretended that the ball just fired wide, however it was clear to everyone that the shot by Danny Francis did in fact go in. Aveley players confronted the referee and after he consulted Newham’s goal keeper the goal was given. Aveley 2-2 Newham.

Newham restarted the game, and the referee blew his whistle to end a very entertaining and dramatic friendly.

Starting x11. Aveley: Marrable, Coyne, Knott, Baker, Kamara, Zee, Okwera, Howard, Elliot, Bakare, Elbi.

Shots: Aveley: 14 (7 on target)
: Newham: 10 (4 on target)