Aveley 3, Wingate & Finchley 4

OVER successful recent seasons Aveley's Parkside ground has been something of a fortress for the Millers, but that reputation may be at risk after successive home league defeats.

And Monday (14 September) evening's Isthmian Premier defeat by Wingate means the hosts have accrued just four points from five outings to date on their own pitch.

Manager Brett Munyard was critical about his team's performance at either end of the pitch, saying they were excellent between the boxes but lacked in the danger zones.

He was disparaging about some individual performances after the match and promised that changes would be forthcoming, saying: "We need to work some things out over the next few weeks, there has to be some changes of personnel which I'm a little bit gutted about, but they've had enough lives."

The match was decided with a late winner for the visitors deep in added time, after Millers had fought back from a two goal deficit to draw level – and they looked the side most likely to go on and win.

But a red card for Chris Harris on 70 minutes changed the momentum and David Oupoh's second goal of the match carried the day for Wingate.

Munyard was critical of referee Toby Carlisle over the red card decision, saying he made an instant judgement without thinking about the nature challenge from Harris, which Munyard acknowledged was late but came from a tired player without malice. Indeed he said he was about to replace Harris who had played on Saturday as well after coming back from injury and was feeling the pace of the match. "It was never a straight red," said the manager, who added 'the ref got happy'.

The visitors had opened the scoring on 14 minutes when recent signing Scott Kashket followed his debut goal against Welling United on Saturday by putting his side ahead, taking advanatage after keeper Chris Turner was isolated at the far post. However, the hosts were soon level, Toby Aromolaran responding after good work from Harris, pouncing on a rebound after his first effort was blocked. It was the seventh goal of his season to date and if changes are coming, they are unlikely to involve him.

Toby Aromolaran prods home his seventh of the season. Picture by Clicks & Kicks.

Parity didn't last long as Kashket grabbed a second, curling the ball home six minutes before the break to give the visitors a half time lead.

Early in the second half it got worse for the hosts when Oupoh, another recent arrival for Wingate, extended the visitors' lead with a header at the back post.

That sparked the Millers firmly into life and within 15 minutes they were level, George Saunders firing home a free kick on 57 minutes and Malachi Napa found the net with a left foot shot after 64 minutes after more good work from Saunders.

Malachi Napa got Millers' third. Picture by Clicks and Kicks.

At that point, as Miller boss Munyard described it, 'there was only going to be one winner'.

But Harris's red card altered the potential script and though Millers battled hard through the closing stages with Turner making some good saves, Oupoh followed up when the keeper could only parry a ball to win the match for the visitors.

Millers now have a two week break from league football with ties against Brentwood in the FA Cup and Ware in the FA Trophy.

Given Munyard's words, it seems likely there will be some new faces when the Isthmian campaign returns at Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday, 29 September.

The manager's critical post-match verdict:-