Four times the charm as Millers beat Magpies

Millers didn't really seem to get into top gear in this game but it was enough to see fellow play-off chasers Dereham off.

Mathias Bakare started for the third time and he had the first shot of the game, it was headed down well by Tyler Devlin, Bakare then came inside but his shot was saved easily by Andrew Wilton.

The only downside to this encounter fell on eight minutes. Off the ball Spencer Harrison seemed to roll his ankle and was forced to come off, this injury should see him out of our game against Chelmsford City midweek. George Essuman was his replacement.

Millers soon after took the lead as Arian Retkoceri controlled the game as he passed the ball out wide to Teddy Nesbitt, who crossed the ball like Jack Wilshere's against Scotland, it landed straight to Tyler Devlin who converted brilliantly past the on-rushing keeper on the volley with his right foot, for his first goal for the Millers. Aveley 1-0 Dereham.

Minutes later Millers should've doubled their lead. Great play this time by Jack Stevenson, he played it across the box to Theo Ola but his shot was just about saved by Wilton.

Dereham did have chances to equalise but didn't capitalise on them, good work on the left hand side as he managed to find a cross which went straight to Hilliard, but his quick flick were matched by quick reflexes of James Marrable to keep Dereham out.

Ryan Hawkins was Dereham's bright spark throughout the game he had the next chance, as his volley left Marrable standing and his shot just went wide of the target.

Millers then against the run of play doubled their lead. Again Arian Retkoceri played it to Jack Stevenson inside the Magpies box, he cut inside on his left foot, he shot dribbled towards the goal and somehow found its way through the keeper into the bottom corner. Aveley 2-0 Dereham.

Dereham could've pulled once back straight away but George Essuman blocked as the ball headed towards the goal from a Ryan Hawkins effort. Millers countered as Theo Ola sprinted away and was taken down by Chris Greenslade who was given a yellow card, from the resulting free kick the Millers put the game to bed.

Jack Stevenson whipped in a dangerous free kick, it looked that either Junior Baker or Tyler Devlin would tap it in, but the ball kindly landed to Theo Ola two yards out and he smashed it home to put the Millers in cruise mode. Aveley 3-0 Dereham.

A few minutes later Dereham responded. The Millers seemed to take their foot off the gas and allowed Ryan Hakwins to run past four players without a challenge going in, he then fired the ball into the bottom corner past James Marrable. Aveley 3-1 Dereham

Dereham could've pulled another back after a long ball from captain Aaron Kay found Hilliard, who managed to squeeze a shot off but he just dragged it wide of James Marrable's right hand post.

Half Time- Aveley 3-1 Dereham

The second half was a scrappy one in the opening moments as Millers attacked the Dereham box the ball just wouldn't land for either Theo Ola or Mathias Bakare as Dereham escaped conceding another goal.

Dereham then threatened with back to back corners, one headed away well by Tyler Devlin and the next corner landed to Hawkins but he connected poorly with the shot and Marrable was able to catch the ball and extinguish the Dereham pressure.

Dereham came again, Ryan Hawkins long range effort look destined for the back of the net as James Marrable scrambled across his goal to reach it, but the ball just dropped wide of the left hand post.

Dereham really should've pulled a goal back from another corner as they pilled on the pressure. From a Dereham free kick Mason pulled away at the front post, it was headed down for him but somehow from four yards out he miss-kicked the ball and dragged it wide of the Aveley goal.

The game was killed off, not by a goal, but by an injury to the Dereham goalkeeper. The ball was put over the top and Tyler Devlin chased it towards goal at the same time as Andrew Wilton chased to kick the ball away, both went in together with feet up, both committed for the ball, but the goalkeeper came off worse and had to be taken off. So that meant that Dereham captain Aaron Kay out on the keepers Jersey and went in goal for the final 15minutes of the game.

The Millers made two changes as Theo Ola and Tyler Devlin came off, and Kyle Asante and Marcus Elliott came on.

Dereham poured forward meant that when Millers countered they had great chances, one fell to Mathias Bakare who missed the ball with one of his shots. The second chance did lead to a goal, but the linesman flag was up for offside, the ball landed to Kyle Asante five yards offside who finished superbly but was rightly given offside. The final chance for the Millers fell to Marcus Elliott who was free and one-on-one with stand in keeper Kay, but his shot was skied and unlike him.

But all in all a fantastic win, our first on a Saturday since the win over top of the table Needham Market. Hopefully this win will propel up on an unbeaten and winning run like earlier in the season.

Man of the Match- Arian Retkoceri.

Full Time- Millers 3-1 Dereham.