Borham Wood 1, Aveley 0

MILLERS manager Danny Scopes spoke of the pride in his side for their commitment and fight – despite seeing his team suffer another defeat on Saturday (8 March), meaning they have picked up just one point from six matches.

It looked, in early February when they beat Maidstone away, that Millers hight have turned a corner in their Vanarama National League South campaign, but injuries and changes in personnel made that a false dawn.

While not discounting the hope of survival, with just nine matches to go and an 11-point gap to safety, he acknowledged the severity of the challenge - but pledged his team would keep fighting until the mathematics were complete, and said they would continue to do their best after that.

Millers made high-flying, promotion-chasing Wood battle all the way and the clash was only decided by a first-half goal from Erico Sousa.

Wood dominated possession early on, with Sousa at the heart of most attacking moves. He forced Millers' keeper James Holden into a good save after five minutes. Seven minutes later, a Sousa cross fell to top scorer Kwesi Appiah, but he headed over the bar. In the 14th minute, Sousa played in Jon Benton, but his weak effort was easily gathered by Holden.

However, Wood took a deserved lead in the 23rd minute when a Femi Ilesanmi cross was powerfully headed in by Sousa.

Just before the half-hour mark, the visitors had their first effort on goal when David Kawa crossed for Luke Holness, who headed wide of Nathan Ashmore's goal.

Wood remained in the ascendancy at the start of the second half, forcing three corners in quick succession.

Former Miller Matt Rush, who played a pivotal part in Millers superb start to their National League debut season before leaving to join Maidstone, went close three minutes after the restart, but the ball got tangled in his feet.

Millers line-up before the match.

In the 51st minute, Payne fired wide when well placed. Two minutes later, a brilliant run by Abdul Abdulmalik created a chance for Appiah, who shot just wide. In the 62nd minute, Abdulmalik's shot from the edge of the area was deflected wide. Soon after, a Hare cross was headed goalwards by Rush, but Holden did well to keep it out.

Wood continued to apply pressure, but with only a one-goal lead, they had to stay alert. Sousa forced Holden into a good save in the 74th minute. Two minutes later, a David Hicks corner was headed over by Brooklyn Kabongolo as Aveley showed they were far from down and out.

Aveley were very much still in the game, and in the 80th minute, Tyrese Owen had a great chance but fired straight at Ashmore. In the closing moments the visitors piled on late pressure, and Hicks had a chance just before the final whistle but couldn't connect properly and though they took plenty of plaudits and were able to bask in a performance when they showed real pride, there was nothing practical for Millers to take home.

They have little time to dwell on that as on Monday (10 March) they are at home to league leaders Worthing at Parkside.