Aveley 6, St Albans City 3

AN astonishing night (Monday, 25 November) at Parkside saw Millers record a fourth Vanarama National League South win of the season against one of their rivals in the relegation zone.

And who arrived at Parkside in the wake of the departure of manager David Noble and his assistant Jon Meakes.

It was a match that saw Aveley come from behind three times and in the end they were able to celebrate a remarkable victory that included a hat-trick for Millers' Razzaq Coleman-De-Graft.

Ken Charles also got three for the Saints, the first being the visitors' opener after just a minute when he turned quickly and fired a shot past keeper Carey Bloedorn.

It didn't take Aveley long to get on level terms, with David Kawa on hand to score on eight minutes with a tap-in at the far post following a free kick.

The lower reaches of the table after Monday's match.

Four minutes later, Saints were back in front following a counter-attack that saw the ball Josh Castiglione's shot had deflected into his path and Charles was on hand to finish.

St Albans had chances to extend the lead but spurned them and also saw Bloedorn make a great reaction save to keep the deficit at one.

His effort was rewarded when resilient Aveley bounced back again on the 35th minute mark when they won a penalty and Coleman-De-Graft converted.

But they were to lose the lead again in the last moments of the half when a Joe Partington through ball set up Charles for this third.

Millers boss Danny Scopes reflects on his side's performance.

The visitors would have been hopeful of taking all three points at the point, but Millers boss Danny Scopes produced an invigorating half time talk and Aveley looked a better side on the restart and within four minutes Josh Anifowose levelled after the ball was deflected back to the edge of the box and Josh Anifowose struck it first time into the bottom corner!

The end-to-end nature of the action continued with Shaun Jeffers firing narrowly wide for before Aveley got their noses in front for the first time as Kawa scored his second following a corner just before the hour.

And the growing sense of relief and optimism in the home camp was fulfilled in the 67th minute when Coleman-De-Graft extended the hosts' lead when he drilled the ball home after the getting on the end of a low cross and he duly completed his hat-trick seven minutes later when he got on the end of Kawa's pass to fire the ball home and wrap up the three points and delight most of the fans in the crowd of 387.

Fellow borough sides Grays Athletic and Tilbury are in action on Tuesday night (26 November).

Grays go to Brentwood Town in a derby match where a win could put either side back into the top five promotion zone, dependent on how Brightlingsea fare against Maldon.  

Tilbury will be in action at Saffron walden Town in the Essex Senior Cup fourth round.