Aveley 4, Felixstowe & Walton United 3

HIGH-flying Avelely made much harder work than might have been expected of beating second-from-bottom Felixtowe tonight (Monday, 20 January) but nevertheless got the job done and at the end of the evening sat level on points with Bet Victor Isthmian North leaders Maldon & Tiptree on 40 points.

Any thoughts Aveley had that the game might be easy were dispelled in the the third minute when Oliver Canfer put the visitors ahead.

It was a deserved break for the hard-working visitors but nevertheless Aveley's quality eventually told and on 35 minutes a free kick was pumped into the box and dropped for George Sykes to force it home.

Things got even better for the Millers just before the break when Alex Akrofi played a square ball across goal that was turned into his own net by Felixstowe captain Stuart Ainsley.

The visitors were battling hard on and 80 minutes grabbed an equaliser through George Clarke who scrambled the ball home from a cross.

Aveley bounced back and restored their lead a minute later when Akrofi's shot was only parried and Sykes was on hand to smash a low drive into the goal.

Akrofi then pounced with six minutes left to establish a two goal lead but Felixstowe ensured an uncomfortable last couple of minutes when Clarke grabbed his second but there was to be no dramatic levelller and in the end Millers took all the points.