Aveley 3, Hashtag United 0

A CRACKING FA Cup tie between two Isthmian Premier League teams on Friday (29 August) had it all.

Three goals, brilliant saves and a red card, which saw Aveley dominate Hashtag in a landlord-tenant match-up in The Emitrates FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

Hashtag had the first chance of the game with former Aveley man Bradley Sach having his shot cleared off the line from Tobi Tinibu in the fourth minute. From that minute onwards, Aveley dominated every aspect of the game.

Alejandro Machado found George Saunders on the wide left-hand side of the pitch. The winger cut inside before curling his 25-yard effort into what can only be described as a top bin in the Tags' left-hand corner.

Moments later, Aveley doubled their lead. A corner from Ollie Peters was met by captain Ryan Henshaw, who powered his header home from six yards out.

On the half-hour mark, the game was all but over. A searching ball was latched onto by forward Suley Zuhdu, who found the bottom right-hand corner of the net with the ball kissing the inside of the post on its way into the goal.

The visitors had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the score down to only three. At first, he denied Jaden Brissett twice when the winger beat the offside trap to face the keeper one-on-one. Grossart then denied Alejandro Machado with a fingertip save over the crossbar. Harry Critchley was also denied by another fingertip save with Grossart getting up and reacting brilliantly to tip over a great half volley from the full-back.

Even when Grossart was beaten, Aveley were denied by the post with George Saunders unlucky not to grab his second and the hosts' fourth on the night.

Hashtag did have a chance of their own, but back-to-back efforts saw The Tags hit the crossbar and the follow-up shot somehow hit the post before Aveley scrambled it away.

The visitors did also have their centre-half shown a red card after two bookable offences, but the damage was already done as Aveley eased into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup.

On Wednesday 3 September Aveley welcome Potters Bar Town to Parkside in the Preliminary Round of the FA Youth Cup - 7.30PM Kick Off.