Millers grab a late point in an eight-goal thriller- whilst Marlow and Felixstowe are cup finalists!

By Ian Townsend

Aveley go third in the North Division, and we had two clubs in County Cup Semi-Finals, both emerging victorious!

The last time that Aveley and Brentwood Town met, back in November, we had eight goals- so perhaps it wasn’t too much of a surprise that the return fixture saw the same again, although with a rather different outcome. The previous match saw the Millers earn a 5-3 victory, and with points-per-game being an important part of the final outcome of the season they could have done with picking up three more last night; but in the end it might turn out that the one point they got might be rather important. They got it by scoring a 95th minute equaliser, Sam Bantick making it four goals in two matches, after being ahead, level, behind, level, behind, level, behind and then level again!

The Millers went ahead in only the third minute, Bantick putting Bobby Vaughan through on goal and watching him finish with aplomb, putting the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner. The lead lasted only six minutes, Charlee Hughes Heading home- and the same player was in the right place at the right time once more sixteen minutes later, making it two-one to the home side. Former Brentwood player Andy Freeman provided the cross for Conor Mead to equalise nine minutes before the break, but there was still time for Brentwood to restore their lead, Tony Stokes crashing home a volley three minutes from half time.

It took until ten minutes from time for the next goal to arrive, and it went to Aveley. A ball flung high into the box and Alex Akrofi rose higher than anyone else to head home. Surely that was that- but no! Three minutes from time, Ernest Okoh fired home for Brentwood, guaranteeing them three points.

Only it didn’t.

Five minutes into added time, Bantick levelled the match, and Aveley still had the chance to win it, the home side having to hold on. The point sees the Millers climb to third place, whilst Brentwood are eleventh.

Felixstowe United are through to the Final of the Suffolk Premier Cup, to be played at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road, after a 3-0 win over Stowmarket Town- goals from Liam Hillyard, who got two, and a header from Joe Francis doing the damage. In the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, Marlow got to the Final by defeating Slough Town 1-0 in front of 441 at Oak Tree Road (you can read the programme here), whilst in the Quarter Final of the Surrey Senior Cup Kingstonian went two-nil down, turned the match around to get three-two ahead, and then somehow lost 5-3 to Metropolitan Police.

Where next?

Gate bring in Worthing stopper... ..after Wells heads for Dartford
Hawks lose their Assistant...whilst the Sarnies still only have Assistants Harlow Assistant leaves their relegation fight, but no news on Egham's new boss five days after his Assistants are appointed

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