Aveley 5, Maldon & Tiptree 3

THERE was a goals feast at Parkside on Friday (22 October) night as the Millers bounced back from their defeat at Canvey and leapt over visitors Maldon to go sixth in the Isthmian North division.

The scoreline doesn't really reflect the way the match played out with Aveley dominant from the off, opening the scoring after ten minutes through Manny Ogunrinde, who had already gone close with a shot when the diminutive player rose to head home in the six yard box.

And a header from centreback Ryan Scott extended the Millers lead just three minutes later.

The visitors, among the favourites for promotion, were not really showing much and it was no surprise when Aveley added a third through Alex Akrofi who raced through and converted the opportunity calmly.

That's the way it remained at half time and four minutes after the resumption Maldon thought they had a foothold in the game when Scott Kemp scrambled the ball home.

However, after a rather dull passage of play with few chances Aveley stamped their authority on the match once more on 70 minutes when Akrofi drove into the box and hammered his shot past visiting keeper Ted Collins.

With eight minutes left there was another flicker of hope for Maldon when Shomari Barnwell grabbed a goal but it was extinguished four minutes later when Makhosini Khanye raced forward and cut the ball back for George Sykes to net Millers' fifth.

The last word was with Maldon when Kemp grabbed his second in the last minute but by then the Millers were home and hosed.

Today's action

THERE's more Isthmian North action in the borough today (Saturday, 23 October) when Tilbury play host to former tenants Hashtag United at Chadfields, while Grays Athletic - who have been without a competitive match for two weeks - make the trip to Heybridge Swifts.

In the Isthmian Premier there is likely to be a decent crowd at Rookery Hill where East Thurrock United play host to table-topping Enfield Town.