Aveley 0, Weymouth 1

AVELEY slipped to the foot of the Vanarama National League South, leapfrogged by their visitors after a lack-lustre display at Parkside today (Saturday, 2 November).

There was little sign of the disappointment to come when Millers made a bright start and they won a free kick on the edge of the box. Ibby Akbani's first effort came back off the wall but he laced the rebound just wide of the post.

Weymouth didn't really threaten until the 12th minute but they should have made more of the chance but Jaiden Bartolo's effort after being set up by Brooklyn Genesini was more of a pass to Millers keeper Carey Bloedorn than a strike at goal.

The visitors quickly created another good opportunity but Euan Pollock's effort was blocked by Harry Beadle.

Weymouth gradually took control of the match with a lack of passion and fight evident in the Millers team. The visitors looked much the more determined of two struggling teams and just before the break they go what proved to be the decisive goal, though it came from a corner conceded after Millers should have had a throw in in their favour.

Minds were probably still on the officials' error when Calvin Brooks capitalised on the set piece restart and fired home from a tight angle.

The second half started with Weymouth in the ascendancy again and Brooklyn Kabongolo did well with a last ditch tackle to stop Keelan O'Connell but ten minutes in Tyrese Owen was denied at close range by a fine stop from keeper Will Buse and Charlee Hughes' follow up was blocked and cleared.

Millers boss Danny Scopes made a raft of substitutions as he tried to change his team's fortunes, but it was to no avail and in the end the hosts were left to rue a disappointing performance which belied the importance of the fixture.

After the match Scopes said he was 'disappointed and frustrated;.

The Millers boss took responsibility for the defeat but said the deciding goal was a referring decision that went against Aveley. The officials awarded a throw in to Weymnouthm which was stringly contested but the ref bowed to the pressure put on by the Terras and it proved a fatal moment.,

"The ref apologised before the throw was taken, saying he'd 'probably got that wrong'," said Scopes.

"We probably could hide behind that and make excuses but ultimately, we didn't defend it enough.

"In the second half we had to get on the front foot and go for it, but we didn't really get any pressure on them until a couple of chances in the end.

"We have to look in the mirror at ourselves and what we are.

"We have to fight for our right to be in the division and I'm not sure we have enough people doing that,

"We need better commitment, and we have to do better if we want to stay in this division.

"I'm responsible for who plays, I'm not going to throw anybody under the bus but this was a Dijo disjointed performance.

"It's back to the drawing board but we have got nothing to lose. We will have to come together and find a way - that's on my head."

Millers have little time to lick their wounds with a trip to seventh-placed Worthing on Tuesday (5 November).