Canvey Island 1, Aveley 1

MILLERS maintained their push for promotion from the Bet Victory Isthmian North with a hard-earned point at Canvey in Saturday.

They had to wait until the last few minutes to score - courtesy of an own goal from one time Aveley player Dan Humphreys - but came close to winning it in the closing moments.

The match got the go-ahead after a late inspection to defy the weather that saw many other regional fixtures rained off.

The point lifted Aveley ahead of three other teams who started the day on 27 points and they go into their Boxing Day derby with sixth-places Grays (1pm) on the back of an unbeaten run stretching back to mid November.

Humphreys will have wretched memories of Aveley. The former Southend United youngster's brief loan spell with the Millers came to an end after a match at Tilbury when he was sent off and then got involved in a brawl which included spectators.

On a pitch that played well despite passing a late inspection, the Gulls did well to neutralise the high-flying Millers for long periods before conceding late on.

Canvey took the lead in the 11th minute when Tobi Joseph set off on one of his trademark determined runs in from the left wing. Joseph appeared to be fouled after he had broken into the area, but referee Ivan Gelov disagreed and waved the penalty appeals away.

This turned out to work in Canvey's advantage however as the ball fell to the feet of left back George Woodward who picked out the bottom corner.

Canvey were buoyed by this early goal and came close soon after when Albert Levett pulled the trigger from 25 yards, seeing his powerful effort drift a couple of yards wide of the top corner.

Aveley's only real sight of goal in the first half come in the 19th minute when Jonathan Nzengo found himself in a shooting position inside the area to the right of goal. The right back shot across goal from a tight angle, with his effort narrowly missing the target at the far post.

Having already scored, Woodward nearly grabbed a second as the half approached its conclusion. His free kick from the right wing was whipped into the near post, forcing goalkeeper James Scammell to push the shot away after staying alert to the danger.

Leading at the break, Canvey had a chance early in the second half when some uncertain goalkeeping presented an opportunity for Rob Lacey. He poked a shot goalwards first time, sending the ball wide of the post.

From this point onwards it was the visitors who enjoyed the lion's share of possession, forcing Canvey to defend in numbers and work extremely hard.

On 63 minutes a cross from the right found Millers' forward Alex Akrofi inside the box. He opted to go with his foot rather than his head, over-stretching in order to do so and shooting across goal and wide as a result.

Two minutes later a free kick from deep into the box caused Lamar Johnson some concern in the Canvey goal. He backpedalled and tipped the ball over for a corner, preventing it from dipping underneath his crossbar.

The Gulls launched a counter attack after dealing with the corner, with Rob Lacey squaring the ball to Sam Bantick who had made up ground down the right. Bantick took a touch and got his shot off, but goalkeeper Scammell did well to come off his line and block the shot.

Lacey had a chance of his own three minutes later when he got his head to Albert Levett's right wing cross at the front post, glancing a header across goal and wide of the top corner.

The Millers had an excellent chance on 78 minutes when Wyan Reid's cross from the right found defender Harry Gibbs unmarked at the back post. He stuck out a foot but steered his shot into the side netting from close range.

Aveley's pressure finally brought reward when they scored a late equaliser on 86 minutes when a low ball from the right from Akrofi was deflected in by Humphreys as he attempted to make an interception at the front post.

Aveley could have won the match in stoppage time when a corner was flicked on at the near post and found Gibbs once again. This time he found himself with a free header but looped the ball onto the roof of the net when well placed.