Weston-super-Mare 4, Aveley 1

AS most pundits predicted, Aveley found the challenge of a trip to high-flying Weston too much to cope with, but they did give their hosts – who now top the table and have an FA Cup first round tie with Bristol Rovers to look forward to – a scare by taking the lead.

The Seagulls are now unbeaten in 16 matches, a statistic which shows the magnitude of the task faced by Millers but they did make a decent start and were competitive throughout the first half.

They weathered some early pressure from their hosts, with keeper Carey Bloedorn making a good save from Sam Pearson, and Millers then went closest to breaking the deadlock when a well-executed corner ended up with the ball being played to Manny Ogunrinde, but he blazed over from close-range. 

But, just a few minutes later, Millers took the lead following good link-up play from Ibby Akanbi and Ogunrinde that found Tyrese Owen six yards out, and he had the simple task of stroking the ball home to delight the travelling Millers fans who were delighted to celebrate a 17^th minute opener.

The goal spurred Weston to increase their efforts and it was a bit of a backs to the wall from then on for Aveley. Bloedorn again denied the lively Pearson, and in a moment of Millers attacking, Max Harris had to move quickly to keep out an effort from Josh Anifowose. 

Reuben Reid then looked poised to equalise, but his shot on target was miraculously cleared off the line by Jason Ring, and Nick McCootie fired just over with a left-footed volley from Billy Kirkman's cross.

However, the pressure told on 40 minutes when Weston grabbed the equaliser as Luke Coulson's perfect delivery from the right was swept home by Pearson from around eight yards out.

The Seagulls came out for the second-half in determined fashion, and Bloedorn did magnificently to tip over another ferocious strike from McCootie. From the corner, Keiran Thomas headed just wide. 

Overall the first-half had been a fairly even affair, but in the second 45 minutes it was Weston with the majority of possession and attacking play, and the Seagulls were rewarded after 65 minutes when Coulson's teasing cross was headed home by Pearson as he celebrated his 23rd birthday in style.

On 84 minutes Coulson found himself in space and his sublime cross met the head of Sam Avery, who emphatically headed home past the despairing dive of Bloedorn.

That goal seemed to settle the contest and the victory was rubber-stamped in the closing moments when substitute Dylan Kadji hit the back of the net with a bullet header following a wonderful free-kick delivery from Coulson.

Aveley are back in action in midweek with a trip to East London for a BBC Essex Senior Cup third round tie against Walthamstow at Wadham Lodge.