Aveley 2, St Ives Town 3

MILLERS suffered a first defeat of the new campaign on Saturday (20 July) when they played host to Southern League Premier Division Central side St Ives Town.

The pre-season for Danny Scopes is well underway ahead of the opening National League South fixture at Welling on 10 August, with a 5-3 win against Dagenham & Redbridge, goalless draw against Billericay Town and a 4-0 win against Redbridge.

On Saturday goals in the 24th and 44th minute put St Ives in the driving seat of the latest friendly on a bakingly hot day at Parkside.

It took just a minute of the second half for Charlee Hughes to get Millers back in the game with a bullet header and within four more minutes they were on level terms when a trialist hammered home from inside the box.

And the early half flurry of goals continued on 53 minutes when the visitors took the lead again and that's how it stayed through the closing stages with Aveley making a raft of substitutions.

Millers are back in action on Tuesday evening when they travel to Canvey Island FC, kick off at Park Lane being 7.45pm.