Aveley 1, Brentwood Town 4

AFTER a season when they have shown remarkable resilience, consistency and performance levels far beyond what most pundits expected, Aveley's hope of promotion back to the National League South at the first time of asking was crushed in nine added time minutes of tonight's (Wednesday, 29 April) Isthmian Premier Division play-off semi-final derby at Parkside.

In front of a thousand-strong crowd Millers had fought back with a late goal, but three goals in nine minutes during added time ended the dream and it is near neighbours Brentwood who go into a play-off final against another south Essex side, Billericay Town.

It will be a bitter pill for Aveley manager Brett Munyard and his side who will see former boss and this season's nemesis Danny Scopes lead Billericay out in the final at New Lodge on Monday, 4 May after they beat Chatham 3-2 in front of a remarkable crowd of 2,757 tonight.

Millers finished six points and three places above Brentwood, though the two league matches between the sides both ended all square.

The first half of tonight's semi at Parkside ended goalless, though there were a number of close calls at either end.

Millers came out of the traps quickly and in the tenth minute Daniel Ogunleye smashed a shot against the upright and two minutes later the visitors were grateful to scramble the ball off the line twice, wiuth Millers adament it had gone over the whitewash.

But Brentwood also rued their luck on 24 minutes when Bradley Sach's effort came back off the crossbar.

Three minutes later Brentwood keeper Aiden Prall saved his side by clearing Jesse Nwabueze's effort with his knees.

Aveley began to feel a little hard done to with some aggressive tackles coming in from Brentwood when their players were well-positioned but they couldn't make anything from the free kicks, while many watching thought the visitors should have had more than the one yellow card handed out to Wyan Reid.

As it was, the sides went into the break goalless.

Just two minutes after the restart the woodwork was rattled again, this time by Nwabueze, whose shot struck the crossbar. And Nwabueze was thwarted again when another effort of his was cleared off the line.

The match turned in Brentwood's favour on 76 minutes when Matt Cripps gave them the lead, prompting a raft of Aveley changes - and ultimately an equalising goal from Nwabueze with just four minutes left on the clock.

When the clock ticked over the 90 minutes, 14 added minutes were indicated and the additional time proved fateful for Millers.

On 95 minutes Brentwood were awarded a penalty for a handball on the edge of the box, and it was fully two minutes later before Ade Cole converted from the spot.

Millers had strong claims for a penalty of their own soon after and their sense of frustration was compounded when Louie Johnson scored a third for the visitors.

That effectively sealed the match and the final disappointment for home fans came when Jesse Olukolu notched Town's fourth in the 106th minute .

After the match manager Brett Munyard acknowledged the achievement of Brentwood, saying they 'probably edged it – but not 4-1' and said he was devastated and disappointed.