Heartbreak for Aveley

A long journey on a Tuesday night ends in heartbreak.

It begun as Dereham got in behind, but a great tackle by Spencor Harrison denied the hosts early on. The only way Aveley seemed to have a chance of scoring was again by their long throw-ins, demonstrated by Billy Sendall, he launched one in, it came out to Billy Coyne, whose shot was blocked and cleared safely away.

James Marrable was again fantastic in goal, the first shot he had to save was when Matt Hockley driven shot was well saved by James in the Aveley goal in the 6th minute of the game. But Aveley came straight back as a Lee Weemes curled shot was finger-tipped over the bar by Andrew Wilton in the Dereham goal. Was such a great start to a very entertaining game between two good teams.

A free kick was then awarded to Aveley, after good pass down the left hand side, Lee Weemes got his body in front of the defender and was brought down. Billy Coyne took it but on a rare occasion it failed to beat the first man, and a big chance for Aveley was wasted. Seconds after the free kick, Junior Baker tried to win back the ball however he mistimed his challenge and he was given a stern telling off by the referee.

Dereham then went up the other end and they would have taken the lead but for a fantastic save by James Marrable, it was a great ball across the box, it went straight to Scott Roberts who directed it towards the goal however the flag was up for offside. The scoreline remained 0-0 in the 22nd minute.

Aveley had a few minutes of frustration, not being able to get at the Dereham goal, and this showed as Lee Weemes received a yellow card for a high challenge, then Spencor Harrison layer one into the Dereham goalkeeper, leaving the goalie needing treatment.

The opening 10 minutes of Aveley pressure had now declined, and now Dereham were in full control of this game. You could see the Aveley back line going deeper and deeper in their own half, as they seemed to invite the pressure on.

But Aveley countered and scored but it was given offside, the disallowed goal started as the ball won by Danny Hopkins, he was then put through by Lee Weemes, whom pushed it past the goalkeeper, finishing off a three man passing move but the offside flag was up. And still somehow the game remained 0-0 after 30minutes.

Lee Weemes then chased down the ball on the goalkeeper, he went in for a tackle, missed the goalkeeper who then went down as he cried wolf to get Lee Weemes sent off for a foul that was never committed, but thankfully the referee lets Lee Weemes off this time.

The next passage of play was a lovely passing move by Dereham, but for a great tackle by Billy Sendall who stopped the shot going in. This time Dereham broke, the ball went in behind, Craig bussells went through on goal using the pace, but James Marrable comes out well and the shot just saved after ball landed to Scott Roberts. 38 minutes gone. 0-0.

The deadline was then broken by Dereham after nice passing play down the left hand side, Roberts and Smith interchanged passes, Smith crossed it, and a turning volley for Borege directed it past Marrable in a composed, stylish fashion.

Half Time- Dereham 1-0 Aveley

Second Half:
Dereham stepped up their superiority they had over Aveley in the second half as they started the second half as they left off in the first, on the front foot.

The Dereham captain,Adam smith, put a dangerous ball into the unmarked Luke Tuttl, but he could only direct his header wide for a guilt edge chance. Another break by Dereham leader Adam Smith occurred, as he ran through past the Aveley back line, put through Borge who stumbled and didn't really connect with the ball with any great malice and the ball looped strangely over Marrable's goal.

That was a chance that Dereham rued as Aveley went up the other end and equalised eventually from the spot. Missed penalty by Lee Weemes for Sammy Knott who ran in and scored the rebound, I couldn't really see any of it as my view blocked by the linesman. Billy Coyne had crossed the ball in but it was into the outstretched arm of Ryan Hawkins, penalty given. Dereham 1-1 Aveley, 55th minute.

A few second later, Dereham then went up the other end as Tuttle gets in behind, he played it left to Adam Smith but his shot is just dragged left of the goal. Another huge chance for Dereham was wasted, thankfully for the Millers.

A Yellow card was given to the Dereham captain Adam Smith as he left a foot in on Billy Sendall, both went in for tackle, Smith went over the ball and left damage which forced Sendall to come off with a knee injury, and on in his place was Teddy Nesbitt.

The turning point in the game then happened as a red card was distributed by the referee to Mathias Bakare. Bakare put his head into Luke Hannant who flopped to the floor, leaving the referee with no choice but to reward the headbutt with a red card.

Aveley then made a change in taking off Lee Weems and bringing on the pacey Daniel Francis.Sub: Lee Weemes off, Danny Francis on. Danny Francis straight into the action as he turned Hannant, but he gets taken out just outside the box. Free kick was taken, into the wall, that went behind for a corner and it was cleared and easily dealt with.

Weirdly after the red card was given Aveley then controlled the game and should have clinched it as Aaron Gayle is brought on and put upfront uses his great upper body strength puts the ball on a plate for Danny Francis, but he dragged his shot wide, on a guilt edge chance, which would have won the game for the Millers.

Deep into added on time the ball came in from the left which Tuttle headed towards goal but Sammy Knott cleared the ball off the line, just in time. A Dereham player was then fouled edge of area by Nesbitt, free kick was taken by Adam smith, the ball agonisingly skimmed off head of Brian Okwera past James Marrable in the back of the net, and after all of the Millers hard work left a gut wrenching goal with made it Dereham 2-1 Aveley 93rd minute.

Full time Dereham 2-1 Aveley.

Man of the match: Sammy Knott.