Aveley 0, Torquay United 1

AVELEY'S relegation from the Vanarama National League South after two seasons was confirmed on Saturday (29 March) by defeat against the Gulls, former Football League club with a full time squad - though ultimately, because of Salisbury's victory against Tonbridge, even a win would not have kept survival hopes alive.

It took a last gasp goal from title-chasing Torquay to win the match against a Millers side reduced to ten men and the match mirrored many before it as Aveley fell just short on so many occasions.

In 19 of their league matches Millers have lost by one goal and they have collected seven draws.

In many of those matches Aveley fans felt aggrieved by pivotal decisions that went against them and departure from the division goes with something of a sense of injustice. The points lost in controversial games might well have seen a different end to the campaign.

Indeed, even Saturday's clash was decided by a moment of contention with Millers furious that a foul was not awarded in their favour by referee Joseph Dann-Pye in the build up to the winning goal.

Though Torquay had more possession there was little to separate the two sides in the first half, when both teams created chances.

Millers' Alfie Lewis had a good opportunity but his low drive failed to test United goalkeeper James Hamon, while at the other end Matt Jay's fizzing ball across the face of goal found Ozzy Zanzala at close-range, however the striker couldn't quite adjust himself in time, as his effort went wide of the post.

After half time the pace of the match picked up, with both Aveley and Torquay visibly upping the ante in pursuit of the opener.

Torquay's cause looked to have been given a boost just past the hour mark when Jack McDowell received a second yellow card for a foul on Gulls' substitute Omar Mussa. Again Millers were less than happy with the decision.

Aveley remained resolute in defence though. Time and again the visitors went within inches of finding the net, only to be denied at the last.

Jay saw an effort cleared off the line, but with the clock continuing to tick down it looked like Millers would get the creditable draw their effort deserved.

However, on 87 minutes a touch from Jay pulled Aveley's backline apart, and substitute Cody Cooke in the right place to fire a low shot found the back of the net to spark delirium on and off the pitch among Torquay players and supporters as the win keeps them fourth, three points behind leaders Worthing.

Watch danny Scopes' post match interview: