Hashtag United 2, Aveley 2

DESPITE paying tribute to his side's character and grit to come from behind twice, Aveley manager Brett Munyard was unhappy with the performance of his side on Saturday (27 December).

Playing 'away' against Parkside tenants Hashtag, Millers went into the Isthmian Premier match buoyed by news that five key players have signed extensions to their terms, while the squad was strengthened further by the signing of Fletcher Alexander-Hubbard from Braintree.

Aveley, in fifth, took a 12-match unbeaten run into clash with Hashtag United, the Tags with only one win from seven and four points from safety.

Hashtag were rather depleted, only three faces on the subs bench, but they made a confident start, with Millers on the defensive and picking up a yellow card for George Saunders after 18 minutes.

It wasn't until the 38^th minute that Millers posed a significant threat, when Aveley's first shot of the game fell to Chris Harris but it was blocked.

And it was to be Tags who broke the deadlock a minute before half time after a good build up. The ball was played out wide to the right and clipped into the middle of the box where Jaden Brissett, who left Millers for Hashtag in October, provided the finish against his former teammates.

The lead was almost extended six minutes into the second half when a shot hit Millers' cross bar, but it was the landlords who scored next.

Alexander-Hubbard came off the bench on the hour mark for his Millers debut and he began to make a good impression quickly. He had created a chance and went close with his own effort before, on 66 minutes, he was fouled, played a quick ball into the box and Chris Harris got on the end of it to scramble home an equaliser.

At that point it looked odds on Millers would step up a gear but it was to be their tenants who took the lead only eight minutes from time when a shot hit the bar, came down and Luke May-Parrott forced the ball home. Claims for offside were eventually discarded by the match officials.

The lead lasted five minutes, with Millers awarded a penalty that Ollie Peters converted. Five extra minutes were added but the score remained the same and Millers retained their unbeaten away record, though Munyard was less than happy, describing the performance as one of his side's worst of the season as they dropped a place to sixth.

See his post-match reaction here: -

Millers are next in action on Friday (2 January) when they entertain Canvey Island.