TWO second-half goals meant a share of the spoils at Parkside as the Isthmian Premier League was kicked off between Aveley and Brentwood Town (Friday, 8 August).

The Millers took the lead in the 60th minute from a penalty kick dispatched by Ollie Peters, but Aveley were pegged back by a former player, with Charlee Hughes tapping in from close range in the 88th minute. 

Aveley came into the game with a totally new squad looking to gel quickly, and took on a team who have largely played together for the last couple of seasons, so it was always going to be a tough first game of the season.

Millers started the game well in the opening 20 minutes, and came close in the 12th minute when Albie Armin and Ollie Peters connected with the latter seeing his shot deflected just wide of Brentwood's left-hand post. 

Not long after, Jaden Brissett and Ollie Peters both tried their luck from the edge of the area, but Melvin Minter in the away goal made the efforts on goal look comfortable.

The visitors grew into the game and started to create a string of sustained attacks. Ade Cole got into the Aveley box down the left-hand side, but his cross was well defended behind by Ryan Henshaw. 

Wyan Reid had an effort deflected by Jayden Gipson wide of our left-hand post. Moments later, Joe Wright was called into action, with the Millers keeper clawing the ball away from goal.

The best chance of the first half fell to the visitors. Last season's 43-goal man, Daniel Ogunleye, went through on goal and looked odds-on to open his goal tally, but the pressure applied by Ryan Henshaw meant the shot was rushed and Joe Wright was equal to it to make the important stop on the stroke of half-time.

Half-Time: Aveley 0-0 Brentwood Town.

The Millers started the second half well, with Alejandro Machado denied by a brilliant fingertip save by Melvin Minter in the Brentwood goal. Alej looked to have put Aveley ahead as he fired the ball towards the bottom right-hand corner, but the visiting keeper got down well and tipped the ball round the corner.

Joe Wright was called into action as he tipped over a long-range shot from Ade Cole, who was allowed time and space on the edge of the area to let rip, but the Millers' shot stopper was on hand to deny him.

On the hour mark, the deadlock was broken. George Saunders was adjudged to have been fouled by Matt Cripps. Ollie Peters stepped up and sent Minter the wrong way as he scored Aveley's first goal of the Brett Munyard era in front of a great crowd of 733.

The Millers had an opportunity to double the lead after a back-to-front attack, which ended with Suley Zuhdu taking aim at goal from the edge of the area, but Minter was equal to it.

Two minutes to go and the visitors pulled back level. Former Aveley forward Charlee Hughes tapped home after an Ade Cole free-kick rebounded around the six-yard box and landed to Hughes, who was in the right place to tap home from close range.

The chances of it being an ex-Aveley player were relatively high, with 55% of Brentwood's eleven on the pitch at the time having all played for Aveley.

There was to be one last chance, which fell to Millers' Suley Zuhdu in the fourth minute of added-on time, but his curling effort was just wide of the left-hand post.