Millers recover just in time to beat Cray

AVELEY 1-0 Cray Wanderers- 37 Minutes Shamido Pedulu.
AVELEY 2-0 Cray Wanderers- 53 Minutes Alex Stavrinou (Pen)
Aveley 2-1 CRAY WANDERERS- 63 Minutes Adrian Stone
Aveley 2-2 CRAY WANDERERS- 64 Minutes Moses Ashikodi
AVELEY 3-2 Cray Wanderers- 89 Minutes Petrit Elbi

The pitch wasn't the best with the snow and rain downpour making areas around the centre circle very wet but the referee deserves great credit for getting on with it and getting the game played.

Millers started slowly but did create the first chance of the game as Petrit Elbi got clear of the defence but put his shot over from a tight angle.

Thought the game Cray Wanderers new striker Moses Ashikodi showed his strength and pace as he battled with Bakare and Essuman, got his cross in but no one was up there to help him.

Cray came again as Adrian Stone chested down for Chris Piper, Piper shot it landed to Ashikodi who finished well past Marrable but the offside flag was already up.

The Millers came back strongly as again Petrit Elbi blasted past Simpson and guided the ball to Jack Stevenson whose effort went just over the bar.

Theo Ola showed his change of pace to glide past opponents as he did superbly down the right to beat Whitely, Ola delivered a fantastic cross into the back post but neither Petrit Elbi nor Shamido Pedulu could get on the end of it.

Aveley were then awarded a free-kick, Mathias Bakare launched it into the box, it hit George Essuman on the back of the head as Cray attempted to play the offside trap which led to about six Aveley players still onside. The ball landed to Shamido Pedulu but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Cray came back again after good work from right back Griffin, he put in a dangerous ball into the box which was headed behind by Junior Baker. The ball was played into the box and Adrian Stone headed down towards the goal and his header flicked the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.

Shamido Pedulu had the ball in the back of the net but for the second time in the game the offside flag denied both sides from taking the lead.

The Millers a minute later did break the deadlock as Ahmed Deen's wayward shot hit the legs of Alex Stavrinou, he shifted the ball to the left and Shamido Pedulu took over and lashed it home. Aveley 1-0 Cray Wanderers.

Half Time- Aveley FC 1-0 Cray Wanderers FC

The Millers offside trap was in full flow as they caught Moses Ashikodi four times as he tried to gallop clear of the Aveley defence.

Aveley were then awarded a penalty as Jack Stevenson and Alex Stavrinou interchanged passes and the ball flicked up and hit the arm of Springett. Alex Stavrinou picked the ball up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to double the Millers lead, and sent them cruising to the win. Aveley 2-0 Cray Wanderers.

Mathias Bakare and Ashikodi both went in for the challenge and Mathias Bakare came off worse and he had to be replaced by Sammy Knott who went to left back and Paul Preston moved to right back.

Cray got back into the game as the ball wasn't cleared from both Sammy Knott and Junior Baker and Adrian Stone got in behind and beat James Marrable to the ball and tapped it in. Aveley 2-1 Cray.

A minute later The Amber Army levelled things up, the ball was played in behind and Moses Ashikodi latched onto the ball and chipped the on rushing James Marrable into the back of the net. Aveley 2-2 Cray.

Aveley responded as Sammy Knott took a quick free-kick into the oath of Junior Baker whose right-footed shot was saved well by Gardikiotis to keep him out.

Warren Whitely then had a brilliant chance as he got in behind down The Millers left hand side and his shot come cross just dragged wide of the post, inches to making it 3-2 to Cray.

Cray came again a minute later as Piper's shot was well saved by James Marrable and the follow up by Stevens was wide.

Petrit Elbi is played through by Jack Stevenson, Elbi was one on one but he chose to take the shot on early but struck it straight at the Cray number One.

Less then a minute later Elbi was u leashed again but this time his shot went into the back of the net only to see the linesman had his flag up for offside.

The Millers then left it to the last minute of the game to grab the three points as Sammy Knott whipped in a superb cross on a plate for Petrit Elbi to superbly volley home to send the players and staff of Aveley happy.

Full Time- Aveley 3-2 Cray Wanderers.