Millers take the derby honours as Holden stars
Aveley 1, Chelmsford City 0
A SECOND half strike from Luke Holness proved decisive in Good Friday's (18 April) derby at Parkside and ensured a second successive win for relegated Millers in the Vanarama National League South.
But the real star for the home side was keeper James Holden – named as Aveley's Man of the Match – who produced a series of fine saves to deny Freddie Hockey, Kane Crichlow, Nico Valentine, Ryan Blackman and Charlie Ruff.
Hockey looked lively in the early stages alongside winger Valentine and both players tested Holden in the opening 10 minutes and Sam Oguntayo was another whon extracted a fine stop in the 12th minute.
Despite City's strong start, Aveley carved out a good opportunity of their own in the 28th minute, when Manny Ogunrinde headed over at the back post from Desse Kasinga-Maida's inviting cross.
City came back strongly in the closing stages of the half but Holden was again at his best to see the sides go on goalless and level.
The Clarets began the second half with more attacking intent and Holden was again kept busy.
At the other end, Aveley missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 52nd minute, when Kasinga-Maida broke through and squared the ball across goal, only for no teammate to get on the end of it.
The deadlock was broken in the 63rd minute by the hosts. A quick exchange on the halfway line allowed Holness to find an opening in the City backline and he raced through on goal and rifled a powerful finish into the roof of the net.
Chelmsford City pushed for an equaliser and did have several more chances to score.
Crichlow had a low shot saved by Holden, before Blackman struck the crossbar directly from a corner later on.
Substitutes Jacob Bland and Charlie Ruff combined inside the Aveley penalty area in the 75th minute, but Ruff's header was again well saved by the in-form Holden and Millers held on for a win welcomed by outgoing manager Danny Scopes, who in his post-match reflection, said he was delighted to see his players show pride, even though they had suffered the disappointment of relegation and he praised their application when it might have been easier 'to drift off'.
"For us as a group, this win means a lot," he said.
Scopes' immediate task is to get his players ready for quick turnaround and a second derby in four days as Millers go to Hornchurch on Easter Monday (kick-off 3pm).
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