Millers bow out of Essex Senior Cup

The Millers gave it their everything at Mill Field last night, and really deserved more then what the score line suggested. It was a case of if Ricky Sappleton would perform, and his man of the match performance was the only difference in a really competitive, well fought match.

Billericay started the better and Obafemi raced through on goal one on one with Marrable, and was taken down by Sammy Knott and the visitors had a strong shout for a penalty but it was waved away by the referee.

The Millers had a few hard tackles on them from numerous Billericay tackles as Halle went in strongly and late on Petrit Elbi leaving him on the floor. Sappleton then went in off the ground two footed on Spencer Harrison, but again cards were not shown throughout the game.

Billericay then should've been in front, a long ball from Poole to Sappleton but his shot was saved well by James Marrable. A minute later again a long ball went to Liburd, his shot bounced onto the post, it landed to Obafemi and somehow from a yard out here fired over the bar.

The visitors did then take the lead, another long ball, and Sappleton out muscled Harrisonn and Baker and curled the ball calmly and cooly into the bottom corner. Aveley 0-1 Billericay.

Millers came back strongly. Danny Francis created space for himself but his deflected shot just landed the wrong side of the post. The successive corner taken by Sammy Knott landed to Billy Holland and his deflected shot bounced off the post to safety into Cancar's hands.

A second penalty appeal then came for the visitors. A cross from the right hand side hit Sammy Knott on the arm, but the appeals were turned down and a corner was given instead.

The Millers then had an appeal at their own penalty turned down but given as a free-kick instead. Danny Francis outpaced the keeper who took him down and it looked inside the penalty area, the linesmen seemed to have signalled the penalty but the referee awarded a free-kick.

Aveley were in control of the game from here on. Billy Holland again unlucky as his looping header crashed into the crossbar and again into the arms of Cancar.

Sammy Knott made a fantastic run down the left hand side but his shot was saved well by the stretching Cancar to deny what looked like a goal for the Millers.

The visitors somehow then missed another glorious chance. A free kick was launched into the area, it renounced to Liburd and he lashed at the ball from eight yards out which cleared the crossbar.

Half Time- Aveley 0-1 Billericay.

A two goals in three minutes ended the game as a contest for a place in the Final.

Billericay first doubled their lead, a long ball was defended well and cleared for a corner. Marrable looked to be obstructed with every corner Billericay had, but a header from Sappleton squeezed between bar and Knotty and into the back of the net. Aveley 0-2 Billericay.

Another corner for our visitors lead to their lead of the game. James Marrable ended up on the floor after being shoved as soon as the corner came in. And Sheeham got up the highest and headed the ball into the back of the net. Aveley 0-3 Billericay.

Millers then had two shots saved 'differently' to a normal goalkeeper. Alex Stavrinou's shot looked like it was going wide but Cancar through his legs at it and it went out for a corner. Then Ahmed Deen's long range shot was saved unconventionally as Cancar reacted in the last second to again push the ball away.

Sammy Knott again cleared superbly, James Marrable kick was closed down well by Liburd. The ball looked like it was rolling into the goal, but Sammy Knott was on hand to slide and clear the ball expertly to keep the score line down.

Millers then got one goal back as Petrit Elbi steered the ball superbly past Cancar into the bottom corner of the net. Aveley 1-3 Billericay.

Elias Armah-Tackie then came on for Danny Francis.

Billericay then somehow missed two glorious chances from close range as both Obafemi and Sappleton fired wide of the target.

Full Time- Aveley 1-3 Billericay.

Millers bow out of the Essex Senior Cup at the second last hurdle, but Aveley did deserve more from the game, but can take a lot out of it.

Next up for Millers is the trip to Harlow Town on Saturday.

Millers XI- Marrable, Preston, Knott, Baker, Harrison, Deen, Ola (Allarakhia), Holland (C), Elbi, Stavrinou (Retkoceri), Francis (Armah-Tackie).

Unused Subs- Stephenson, Essuman.