Millers denied win by late goal and have two more pre-season matches before rearranged Friday night opener to league season
By Nub News Reporter 27th Jul 2025
Needham Market 2, Aveley 2
A LAST gasp equaliser denied Millers a win in Saturday's hard-fought friendly at Southern League Premier Division Central Needham Market.
Aveley were already grateful to a goalline clearance from Alejandro Machado in the seventh minute when they conceded a penalty, but it was saved by Christian North.
Almost immediately Millers went up the other end and new signing Jaden Brissett set up Elliott Sartorius whose strike went in off the far post for a 12th minute opener.
Scores were levelled on 24 minutes when Needham got another penalty and this time it was converted and the sides went into half time on level terms.
That only lasted 11 minutes into the second half when Rowan Liburd restored Millers' advantage after more good work by Brisset and Machado.
The win was denied in the last minute when the ref played a good advantage, allowing the hosts to break quickly and level the match.
The impressive showing of Brissett came after he was signed from Southern Premier League side Basingstoke Town.
The 24-year old impressed in a number of pre-season games and signed on the dotted line for the upcoming 2025/26 season before Saturday's match.
Brissett started his career as a product of the Norwich City Academy and signed his first professional contract at the age of 16 before moving to Brentford Academy in 2020.
Following his departure from Brentford, he gained further experience in men's football representing Dagenham & Redbridge, Chesham United and Hayes and Yeading before moving to Isthmian South Central side Southall in 2022.
Millers' pre-season action continues on Tuesday (29 July) with a home friendly against Welwyn Garden City (7.45pm) and on Saturday (2 August) they travel to Southern League Premier Division Bishops Stortford (3pm).
Aveley's competitive season will now start a day earlier. On Friday, 8 August Millers will welcome recently-promoted Brentwood Town to Parkside, 7.45pm ko.
The reverse Isthmian Premier League fixture has also been brought forward a day to 28 November (7.45pm).
Another change sees the Millers' match at home to Burgess Hill Town now on Friday, 15 August, also 7.45pm.
And Folkestone Invicta at home has also moved due to a Kent Senior Cup game, meaning it will now be played on Monday, 15 September, (7.45).
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