Millers revenge

The Pitching In Isthmian League continued with its tributes to our late lamented sovereign last night, with both matches- at Aveley and Merstham- preceded by solemn silence. The Millers and opponents Potters Bar Town paid a second tribute, when supporters broke into a minutes applause on seventy minutes to mark Her Majesty's seventy years on the throne- perhaps an idea that other clubs in action tonight in League and FA Trophy may wish to consider?

The Millers and the Scholars were meeting for the third time in ten days, and prior to last night advantage was most certainly with Potters Bar Town- and it seemed for much of the match at Parkside the same would be true. New signing for the Scholars Isaac Gailford gave them a ninth minute lead on his debut, and it was a lead they held onto until twenty two minutes from time, when a shot from Brendon Shabani took a deflection and beat Ted Collins in the visitors goal.

Into the last five minutes we went, with a draw looking the most likely option, and suddenly there was George Sykes, taking a ball from Benas Vaivada and firing home to put the hosts ahead. Just before the end, with the Scholars pushing for an equaliser, a foul on Bryan Ifeanyi have Sykes the chance to ensure three points with his sides third goal, and he made no mistake from the spot. The Millers go top, and they'll stay there no matter what happens in the other fixtures tonight as they have a our point cushion over third place Folkestone Invicta.

That was the Millers first win against the Scholars since February 2018, and they'll be savouring it this morning.

Our next match saw us in FA Trophy action, as Merstham welcomed Hythe Town. The Moatsiders have taken only one point from their four Pitching In Isthmian South matches so far, and had yet to record a win in any competition- but they put that right in style last night.

Lorenzo Lewis was the star of the show, putting the hosts ahead on fifteen minutes and doubling his tally just before the half hour. The Cannons, who have scored a number of late goals this season, didn't give up- but any chance of a comeback was extinguished right at the end as Malaki Hyman made it three.

The Moatsiders had won only one of the previous nine encounters between the clubs, so this victory will be sweeter still.

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