Seventh Heaven

In what could have been a hurdle the Millers couldn't jump over. Aveley scored three to seal the deal for the seventh win on the bounce.

The Millers looked sharpe and bright from the outset, with the early chance going to Lee Weemes but his shot was well blocked, cleared up to Soham captain Luke Stanley but James Marrable came off his line as he cleared the danger.

Both teams were very tight and both seemed to eye up each other, during this huge game of who blinks first, Soham did which allowed Marcus Elliott to head a Billy Coyne cross against the post and cleared for a throw-in, but it came to nothing.

Soham tried their luck with long balls over the top of Aveley defence, which created numerous problems later on in the half. But up until the 20th minute Aveley were dealing with the long balls well, so much that James Marrable really didn't have to make a save. With Spencer Harrison and Junior Baker throwing their body and lives at the ball Marrable really didn't need to do anything.

The deadlock was broken as Marcus Elliott picked up the ball as Soham couldn't clear the ball properly as it just looped off the head of Victor Torres into the path of Elliott who ran only to edge of penalty area, he seemed to scuff and lose the chance but the ball squeezed into the bottom corner to give the Millers a deserved lead after 25minutes. Aveley 1-0 Soham Town Rangers.

Nothing of note really happened during the opener for Aveley and Sohams equaliser. Soham nicked an equaliser as Andy Palmer was given the ball on the edge of the area, and his shot was going straight into James Marrable's arms, but it took a wicked deflection off of Aveley captain and into the bottom corner, six minutes from half time. Aveley 1-1 Soham Town Rangers.

After that equaliser Soham sprung to life, every single pass they did came together as the carved open Aveley time after time. Aveley couldn't get the tempo up, but just defended deeper and deeper. There was three guilt-edged chances for all of the Soham strikers as first, Palmer was through and he put it wide of the on rushing Marrable. The second was Luke Stanley who found the exact same place where Palmer put his shot, wide of the target. Then unbelievably David Prada's shot went wide of the target after he was pressured by Billy Coyne. Somehow it remained Aveley 1-1 Soham, but really Soham should have led 4-1 going back into the dressing rooms for half time. Somehow the Millers survived.

Half Time: Aveley 1-1 Soham.

Aveley yet again came out the dressing rooms, like they received a rocket where the sun doesn't shine from the gaffer, Justin Gardner. Lee Weemes had a 50/50 chance but his header back across the goal lacked power and Marcus Elliott couldn't get on the end of the nod down.

Aveley took the lead again by one of the strangest goals I've ever witnessed, I honestly couldn't believe it went into the goal, not because it was Danny Francis who scored it, but the way the ball landed in the back of the net. He controlled the ball on the edge of the area with his right foot, turned to set himself up and volleyed it, the ball, I think took a deflection, and it landed into the back of the net. Aveley 2-1 Soham.

The next real attack lead to the goal which in the end really did kill the game off with 30 minutes left. Marcus Elliott on another mazy run past two defender and seemed to again scuff his shot, somehow past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner of the goal. His forth of the season (if my stats are right). Aveley 3-1 Soham.

Soham started to show a little bot of fight with two corners, but they were easily cleared by the Millers. Another guilt edge chance arrived for Soham as the substitute, Daniel Brown, was given a chance on a plate, but he couldn't finish his dinner and he put it wide of the post. A minute later, another ball came in back post but this time it was nodded behind by Billy Coyne for a Soham corner, Danny Francis countered from it but his pass lacked power to put the unmarked Lee Weemes through on goal,vand a huge chance was wasted.

Danny Francis was then fouled and was taken off, and on came Petrit Elbi in his place. Teddy Nesbitt whipped the free-kick into the back post and was a whisker away from making it 4-1. But thankfully for Joe Templetons blushes it went wide of the right hand post.

Joe Bricknell and Lee Weemes were taken off, and on came Aaron Gayle and also Armah-Tackie came on for his debut with 5 minutes left of the game.

A sign of a good goalkeeper is one that doesn't really have much to do but still pull out worldie saves when called upon, this is why James Marrable is a fantastic keeper. Daniel Brown's shot was destined for to nestle into the bottom corner, but for an amazing fingertip save by Marrable, to keep the game safe for Aveley, with no late drama.

The only real negative from the whole game was when Aaron Gayle was given a red card for something. I wasn't looking because I checked the England score, but as I raised my head I saw the referee going into his back pocket to award the red card, in a game that did t have any bad tackles, it seemed the referee may of had an overreaction for an innocuous raised foot by Aaron Gayle.

Seven wins on the trot for the Millers. Onto the eighth, back in the FA Cup away at Tilbury.

Full Time: Aveley 3-1 Soham Town Rangers.