Aveley overcome stubborn Basildon

Aveley took their time, but after a battle against valiant Basildon, Aveley are on their way to either Codicote or Tilbury in the FA CIp first qualifying round.

Aveley started strongly as again they used their set pieces and long throws to cause danger in the Basildon box. Joe Bricknell passed the ball around well, as he led the midfield line for the Millers. He passed it to Lee Weemes whose shot was blocked well by Mick Finneran. Another dangerous long throw then came in by Billy Coyne, the ball bobbled and bounced around in the box, it looked to have hit a Basildon defenders hand, Petrit Elbi then had both arms in the air as he claimed for a penalty, however as he claimed for it, George Whitby kicked the ball away which striked Elbi on his arms and the referee had to give a free-kick to Basildon.

Aveley should have broken the scoreline on countless occasions but none more so then in the 15th minute. After lovely football by the Millers, Marcus Elliott played the ball into Danny Francis who had his back to goal, he decided to back heel it, and the ball hit the base of the post and went out for a goal kick.

Another huge chance went to Marcus Elliott, after good work by Petrit Elbi as he glided past Basildon right back, Jordan Williams, he crossed the ball to Marcus Elliott who fluffed his shot and didn't go anywhere near the goal.

Basildon's keeper is the one I'd give man of the match to, after two superb saves. His first save came from good work by Lee Weemes who passed it to Marcus Elliott on the edge of the area, who shot low hard towards the bottom corner, but the shot was very well saved by Russell Harley. His second superb save by Harley came few minutes later from a Billy Coyne free kick as he drilled it into the back post where Spencor Harrison headed the ball with great pace, it looked like a certain goal, but a superb instinctive save by Harley, as he finger tipped it onto the crossbar and out for a corner which was cleared and came to nothing.

Near the end of the first half, Basildon looked the most likely to score with Craig Gillim, as he had two great chances, as he intercepted a Billy Coyne pass, ran towards goal but he fired his shot straight at James Marrable, his first real save of the game. Another huge chance came from Gillim as he broke in behind the Aveley back line, but he looked of balance and he fired wide of the target.

Half Time: Aveley 0-0 Basildon.

In the 53rd minute of the game the breakthrough finally came. Danny Francis was fouled and pushed in back by Ricardo Bailey on the edge of the area. Billy Coyne took it and it cracked into the top corner like a rocket, in the usual Coyne fashion. Aveley 1-0 Basildon.

Throughout the whole game, Aveley were having great build up play from Alex Stavrinou and Joe Bricknell, but as soon as The Millers got close to the goal, nobody really could get their shot off on target to force the Basildon goalkeeper to make a few more saves.

A great effort came from Teddy Nesbitt as the ball was played out wide and on the volley Nesbitt connected with the ball for what looked like slow motion, however it was straight down Russell Harley's throat again.

Petrit Elbi who had a few shots but were blocked well by Basildon defenders then went off and on came Brian Okwera returning back from holiday. The game was really quiet as Aveley were happy enough to pass it around their own back four, and weirdly Basildon were contempt to just sit back and watch them. Danny Francis was also taken off and on came the pacey Theo Ola for his home debut with 20 minutes left of the game.

A huge chance then went to Basildon, as they now tried a long throw in, the ball bounced around Avelely penalty box, Basildon got three shots off in a huge scramble for the ball, but eventually the ball bobbled it's way great fully into James Marrables arms, somehow it was still 1-0 to the Millers.

With five minutes left of the game Joe Bricknell then went off and on came Aryan Retkoceri.

Four minutes was then added on. And two minutes into it the game was finally killed off as Basildon poured forward, Aveley countered. Lee Weemes and Theo Ola attacked, Lee Weemes pulled the ball across unselfishly given the chance to Theo Zola who smashed home from six yards out to put the game to bed. Aveley 2-0 Basildon United.

Full Time: Aveley 2-0 Basildon
Attendance: 64
Millers Man Of The Match: Joe Bricknell.

Millers X11: James Marrable, Billy Coyne, Teddy Nesbitt, Junior Baker (C), Spencer Harrison, Joe Bricknell (Aryan Retkoceri 85), Petrit Elbi (Brian Okwera 64), Daniel Francis (Theo Ola 70), Lee Weemes, Alex Stavrinou, Marcus Elliott

Subs not used: Aziz Kanu, Anton Stephenson, Taylor Nathaniel.