Aveley 2, Eastbourne Borough 0

AVELEY'S impressive start to their inaugural Vanarama National League South season continued with Monday night's (14 August) victory at Parkside to back up Saturday's emphatic triumph against Taunton.

It came courtesy of a goal in each half from Jon Benton and Matt Rush as Millers showed the depth of their attacking prowess in front of a crowd of 504.

The hosts made a bright start, but Eastbourne also bared their teeth and home stopper Jonathan North had to be alert to deal with a couple of half chances, while other dangerous moments were snuffed out by a hard-working defence.

But Danny Scopes' team are not short of adventure going forwards and they began to exert more pressure and Benton earned a free kick with a mazy run and then delivered a strike that came back off the woodwork.

And soon after he delivered a fine cross that was just fractions away from being converted by Kenny Aileru.

The momentum was definitely with Millers and Aileru went close again with a shot after great work by Jon Nzengo.

On 25 minutes Eastbourne keeper Ben Dudzinski saved his team with a fine stop to deny Charlee Hughes from close range. That might have been pivotal for the visitors as they then went up the other end and should have scored through Stefan Vukoje but he put his header, after being brilliantly set up by Alfie Bridgeman, over the bar.

A period of Eastbourne pressure followed which Aveley weathered and on the brink of half time Benton delivered the opening goal with a great strike from distance. And there was still time before the break for Hughes to go close twice with a shot and header in quick succession.

The Millers' momentum continued after the break with Benton going close again and Hughes saw an effort deflected wide.

On the hour Aveley grabbed the crucial second goal, once again surviving a spell of pressure and responding well on the hour when a corner by Benton was flicked on by Harry Gibbs and Rush was on hand at the far post to net.

A third might have followed but Dudzinski did well to deny Aileru at close range.

The Millers looked convincing as they saw out time with a really solid team display and the icing on the cake almost came in added time when Benton found Garrett Kelly at the back post. His shot beat the keeper but not the defender on the line who slides it away.

However, it was a mild disappointment in the context of a fine victory as Millers continue to show they may be a genuine force to be seriously considered with in non-League's second tier.