AVELEY came through a thrilling FA Cup tie at Lowestoft this evening (Tuesday, 22 September), ending the evening with ten men but recording a fine giant-killing act but there was disappointment for East Thurrock who bowed out of the competition.

Aveley travelled to Crown Meadow on the east coast to take on the Southern League Premier Division Central Trawler Boys and held on through a nerve-wracking finale to reach the second qualifying round.

The visitors made a great start, taking the lead after just four minutes when Mitchell Gilbey latched onto a through ball and chipped the onrushing goalkeeper with Bradley Sach makomg sure of the goal by tapping home.

And things got even better on 18 minutes when George Sykes raced through and held off a defender before slotting it past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Lowestoft were back in the match on 38 minutes when a ball in from the left from Jack Wilkinson was nodded back across goal and though keeper David Hughes got his hand to it Jake Reed was there to tap home.

That's how it stood at half time but Millers restored the two goal advantage on 64 minutes when, moments after Kieran Higgs had rattled a shot against the crossbar at the other end, Sach played in Sykes who converted his second of the night.

Millers were reduced to ten men on 74 minutes when James Goode picked up his second booking in quick succession and Lowestoft scored again five minutes later through Louis McIntosh.

However, the battling Millers held on through an anxious last 20 minutes and recorded a memorable victory.

There was no such joy for East Thurrock United who travelled to fellow Isthmian Premier Potters Bar and went down by the only goal of a rather poor match.

It came in the 64th minute from Ben Ward Cochrane and though East Thurrock mounted a rousing finish to the match, with lots of late pressure, they were unable to force the equaliser.

Grays Athletic will be hoping to become the second borough side through tomorrow night, when they entertain Potton United at Parkside.