Aveley 1, Hampton & Richmond 2

THE outcome of Saturday's National League South encounter at Parkside wasn't quite as simple as saying Millers were unlucky, but over 90 minutes the division's bottom club gave a decent account of themselves and any neutral pundit might have been hard-pressed to decide the league pecking order.

But the reality is Danny Scopes' side slipped to yet another defeat and while results elsewhere were once again relatively kind - no-one in the bottom nine sides winning - the potential relegation escape tunnel continues to narrow.

Scopes, in his post match retrospective, suggested it may need a couple of new faces to revitalise the challenge, but with fellow relegation candidates Salisbury due at Parkside on Monday (3 March), he has little time to make change happen.

Saturday's encounter started quite promisingly, with Millers getting on the front foot early and, while their threat was limited, optimism was in the air.

One of the better Millers performers was Manny Ogunrinde but he had to quit the fray a few minutes before half time after picking up an injury.

Millers continued to hold their own on the resumption and they were more than equitable with their visitors up to the hour mark. However, on 67 minutes they went behind, somewhat controversially as they claimed a handball in the move eventually finished off by Hampton's Archy Taylor.

To their credit Millers didn't dwell on the perceived misfortune and within two minutes they were level when Harry Beadle headed home from a corner.

Hope flickered somewhat vicariously and with another couple of minutes Aveley were behind again when Zander Siziba's shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner of the net.

Millers refused to go quietly and had the ball in the net on 81 minutes but it was disallowed for offside in the build-up and Hampton then managed to effectively run down the clock and take the points.

Millers are quickly back in action, with Salisbury visiting Parkside on Monday (3 March)  and admission for all has been reduced to £5!