Millers progress on penalties after late equaliser

Aveley squeak through on penalties after a dire game of football. This was one of the poorest games of football on an awful pitch, where the journey from Aveley to Wivenhoe, was really more eventful than the 90minutes.

Both teams started off poorly, Aveley couldn't keep hold of the ball, and you just could see if they kept the ball, and played simple football it would've been an easy win, but on this pitch, even when Mathias Bakare, Alex Stavrinou and Petrit Elbi tired running with the ball at their feet, the ball would bobble and go away from them, and the Millers would lose possession.

The first chance of the game came on 20 minutes as a Billy Sendall long throw was flicked on by Junior Baker at the near post, all the way across the goal, to the back post, where it would've been a tap in, but nobody made a run to the back post, and the scoreline, on a cold night was 0-0.

Petrit Elbi had to go off early due to an injury to his groin, and on came Jamie Hursit for his debut for the Millers. Two minutes later he was booked as Wivenhoe sort of broke, he didn't really need to commit the foul as Wivenhoe broke with three players against Aveley's five.

Wivenhoe didn't threaten the goal, I don't remember a time Marrable had to touch the ball in the 90minutes.

The Millers had another chance as Alex Stavrinou crossed in a wonderful ball to the back post, but Junior Baker failed to convert to put Aveley infront, and really that is how exciting the game was in the first half.

Wivenhoe had their first shot of the game on the 39th minute mark, but Parkins 35yard effort, was miles over the bar.

Aveley did have one more chance as the ball landed to Alex Stavrinou but his shot was blocked by the arm of centre back Rogers, and the ball was cleared.

Half Time- Wivenhoe 0-0 AVELEY FC.

Three minutes after the restart Wivenhoe had their first shot on target, and somehow took the lead. Miguel did well to come inside from the left as he managed to dribble past three players on a bobbly pitch, he laid it off for Connell who curled it into the bottom corner for the dragons. Wivenhoe 1-0 AVELEY FC.

Spencer Harrison then came off for Hassan Jollah, his first game since pre season away to St Neots.

Wivenhoe started tackling hard and they were awarded two yellows in two minutes. Wivenhoes Parkin gets ball kicked at his head from seven yards, when he should've been ten yards from a free kick, Mathias Bakare hits the free kick, which smacks Parkin in the face, he then ran after the ball to chase it down, he was ten yards from the sideline, he decided to walk over to get a bottle of water, walk back two yards onto the pitch and sat down holding his head, as time wasting went, this was right up there.

Lee Weemes had a good chance, but he slashed at the effort which was then cleared behind for a corner. Teddy Nesbitt crossed the ball in but it seemed to catch Junior Baker off guard and it seemed to hit him out for a goal kick.

Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe then went off and on came Marcus Elliott.

The next opening was Aveley's deserved leveller. Teddy Nesbitt spotted Jamie Hursit, who controlled with his "chest" and hit the ball into the goal with the inside of the post with one minute of the 90 left. Wivenhoe 1-1 AVELEY FC.

Aveley were on the charge, Marcus Elliott's shot was blocked and cleared for a corner. Nesbitt put the ball in, but the referee had already blown his whistle, and booked Billy Sendall, not sure why, I wasn't looking in that region.

The Full Time whistle then went and it will have to go to penalties.

Alex Stavrinou, Sammy Knott finished well. After two penalties each it was 2-2.

Hassan Jollah then stepped up and was struggling to put the ball on the penalty spot, but he managed to smash it into the bottom corner anyway.

Teddy Nesbitt then had his penalty saved by Wivenhoe keeper 5 yards off his line, so correctly the referee asked for a retake and Teddy converted on the second attempt.

James Marrable then saved from Wivenhoe 12, and Lee Weemes had the chance to win it, but the goalkeeper pulled off a great save down to his left hand side in the corner to keep the penalties going.

Mathias Bakare stepped up, and converted his penalty cool as ice. Jamie Hursit then scored and Wivenhoe also converted and it was 6-6.

Marcus Elliott then converted his penalty with his right foot, and Wivenhoe 7 stepped up, but James Marrable saved it, and put the Millers into the next round of the Essex County Cup.

Millers Lineup- James Marrable 7, Billy Sendall 7, Spencer Harrison 6 (Hassan Jollah 5), Junior Baker 6, Teddy Nesbitt 6, Sammy Knott 6, Lee Weemes 5, Mathias Bakare 5, Petrit Elbi 5 (Jamie Hursit 7), Alex Stavrinou 6, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe 5 (Marcus Elliott 5)

Unused subs- Daniel Francis, George Essuman.