Ramsgate 4, Aveley 0

MILLERs suffered a disappointing defeat against promotion-chasing Ramsgate on Saturday (7 November), with manager Alex Akrofi saying he shouldered responsibility for the Isthmian Premier loss by not setting the team up correctly.

The visitors to the WW Martin Community Stadium found themselves behind when Akrofi's game plan was thrown into disarray almost immediately. A sluggish start saw the visitors concede to Billy Munday in just the second minute of play, forcing Aveley to chase the game from the outset.

Things quickly went from bad to worse when Saint Kitts and Nevis international Rowan Liburd, who played eight times for Millers last year, doubled Ramsgate's advantage after 15 minutes, though his goal was contentious.

It came from a high ball into the box that Millers keeper Jamie Grossart got both hands on but it was knocked out of his grasp by Liburd and he tapped home. The goal stood despite vigorous Aveley protests.

On 26 minutes Millers had a chance to get back into the match when they were awarded a penalty but Ramsgate goalkeeper Jonny Henly correctly anticipated Malachi's Napa's strike and made a fine save.

Aveley attempted to reshuffle in the second half, making tactical changes at the break, but Ramsgate's defensive resilience kept them at bay.

The hosts put the game entirely out of reach late in the second half. Alfie Paxman struck from distance in the 77th minute to make it 3-0 and in stoppage time substitute Latrell Lewis capped a lively cameo by scoring a spectacular strike.

Afterwards Akrofi said: "There's no hiding from it — that was a painful afternoon, and it hurts. Every single one of us in that dressing room has to feel it. You cannot come to a tough place like Ramsgate and concede in the very first minute; it completely throws your game plan out the window and you're chasing it from the offset.

"I thought we showed a bit of fight to get back into it, but when you get a lifeline like the penalty and don't convert, it just saps the belief out of the group. From there, we pushed bodies forward to try and salvage something, but we got caught out and punished ruthlessly.

"We pride ourselves on working for each other and being relentless, but today we just weren't at the level."

Millers are back in BBC Essex Senior Cup action this Wednesday (11 November), travelling to Billericay's New Lodge ground to take on Essex Senior League side Hutton.