Burgess Hill 1, Aveley 1

AN injury time goal from a goalkeeper denied Millers a first win in five Isthmian Premier attempts, a run that stretches back to August.

It was a match Millers deserved to win but when times are hard, the footballing gods can be merciless. Manager Alex Akrofi had praise for his team in the wake of the disappointing ending, saying he had nothing but admiration for their effort and endeavour but added they failed to be clinical when they had the chance to put the match to bed.

New signing Francis Mampolo led the line from the start with another newcomer, Romel Aarons-Royal starting on the bench.

The first chance fell to Millers' Malachi Napa moments after the start but he blazed his shot way off target. Things then evened out, though had it not been for a great save from another new signing, Tommy Goodger, Burgess Hill might have taken the lead.

Millers had to make an early change when another recent recruit Aaron Sterling came off after failing to respond to treatment on a calf problem and he was replaced by the recently-returned Shad Ngandu.

Soon, the Millers began to dominate the match and Napa, Ngandu, Mampolo, and yet another new face Kymani Thomas all had half-chances that came to nothing. However, Millers looked in good shape going into the break goalless and there were positive signs as all the new signings began to gel.

As the second half began, the best bit of play of the game occurred and resulted in the deadlock being broken on 51 minutes.

Ellis Bates intercepted the ball just outside his box, and drove forward to the edge of the Burgess Hill box. He laid the ball to Kymani, whose cut-back returned the favour and Bates flicked the ball left-footed into the net, despite the juggling efforts of home keeper Rocco Rees. His circus skills might be lacking but he was to have his starring moment at the death.

Before then Millers should have clinched the outcome with chance after chance, but they were unable to convert any of them.

Late in the game there were debuts off the bench for Aarons-Royal, who came on for Napa, and in the fifth minute of added time Frankie-Jay Moralee replaced Jonathan Nzengo.

That might have been a move that unsettled Aveley's organisation because in the 96^th minute Hill got a corner and Rees raced into the box where he dived acrobatically to head home and deny Millers their just reward.

Millers travel down the A13 to take on Concord Rangers in the BBC Essex Senior Cup Third Round on Tuesday evening (13 October).