Aveley 2, Folkestone Invicta 5

AFTER the euphoria of Saturday's FA Cup win in Suffolk, Millers crashed down to earth on Monday night (15 September) with a heavy Isthmian Premier defeat at the hands of high-flying visitors Folkestone.

The visitors went into the match in fine form, having been unbeaten in all competitions and with four wins and two draws in their opening six league games.

There was little to forecast what would follow in the opening stages as the sides looked well-matched and Aveley very much on the front foot.

They quickly set about imposing themselves on the evening, applying pressure with balls into the Invicta penalty area and visiting keeper Ted Collins was forced to tip a cross-shot over the crossbar in the fifth minute before Invicta survived a scramble in the penalty area from the resulting corner.

On 12 minutes Rowan Liburd then went close to putting the Millers ahead as he raced into the box with a man closing him down and shot just past the post.

But Millers were to take a deserved lead on 18 minutes when Jayden Robinson took a touch before unleashing an out-swinging effort into the far corner.

Invicta responded immediately by creating their first shooting opportunity of the evening, but defender Ben Mason's left-footed strike failed to hit the target.

On the half hour mark, Liam Smith got his head on a Ben Mason throw to force Aveley goalkeeper Joe Wright into his first action of the evening, but he was able to make a simple catch at his near post.

Invicta then upped their game and created several chances with Donell Thomas forcing a much harder save from Wright and the same player then shot narrowly wide.

The equaliser came five minutes before the break when Smith's far post header looped over Wright into the net.

The dust had barely settled before Invicta struck again. Ex Love Island participant Montel McKenzie won the ball with an interception on half-way. Ade Yusuff then found Joe Pigott who clipped a pass over the Aveley defender for McKenzie, who controlled the ball and cut inside to finish into the bottom corner beyond Wright. Two goals in 154 seconds had spun the evening on its head.

Aveley came out flying after the break, Jayden Robinson fired wide from distance before top scorer Ollie Peters fired a great chance wide from the middle of the penalty area

Invicta weathered the storm, which included a fine save from Collins, and went on to increase their lead seven minutes into the second half. Half time substitute Josh Strouts did well to hold off a defender before rolling the ball into the path of Thomas who raced into space and fired a low effort beyond Wright.

At the other end, Ollie Peters provided a chance for Alejandro Machado to respond immediately but his effort from the middle of the penalty area failed to hit the target. Ryan Henshaw then headed over from six yards out and Machado stung the palms of Collins from outside the penalty area as chances continued to fall for the hosts but again Invicta punished Aveley's profligacy immediately.

McKenzie found the run of Strouts with a ball down the left. The forward raced to the byline and cut the ball back to the edge of the six yard box where Mason was on hand to make amends for his earlier miss.

Aveley cut the deficit back to two with 15 minutes remaining from a corner which was allowed to bounce at the near post before being headed home from close range by Jayden Gipson.

Celebrations did not last long however, Invicta restoring the three-goal cushion just 70 seconds after the restart. With Aveley pushing high up the pitch, Mikey Berry found fellow substitute Jake Hutchinson with a long pass into the space behind, Hutchinson doing well to stay on his feet long enough with his shirt being pulled to finish beyond Wright.

That secured Invicta's first ever win against Aveley, who now begin to prepare for Saturday's home Thames derby against Dartford.