Redbridge 2, Aveley 1

MILLERS' caretaker management of physio Kevin Head, assisted by youth team coach Alex Smith, fielded another young side for Tuesday's chilly trip to near neighbours Redbridge and though they went down, it wasn't without a late fight-back that warmed up visiting supporters' hearts.

Aveley had made a promising start to this Ryman One North derby and held their own in a first half of few chances but they were undone just before half time when keeper Marc Palmer could do nothing to stop Danny Boateng's pin-point shot into the top corner.

The visitors might have got back on level terms ten minutes into the second half when Gerreau McCarthy intercepted a back-pass, took it round the keeper and pulled it back to Anthony Aylett whose shot went wide.

Aveley threatened again and McCarthy came close with a goal-bound shot that was deflected for a corner but they were caught on the counter-attack on 75 minutes when Redbridge sub Julian Charles broke, rounded Palmer and shot into an empty net.

A revival was threatened when Millers grabbed a goal back four minutes later when Michael Alaile crossed and the influential McCarthy shot home.

That prompted a late flurry chances from the visitors. The best of them saw Bon Thanda cross and Marc Weatherstone shot just over the bar.

In stoppage time Palmer's long ball was headed on by McCarthy and Liam Francis' shot was blocked by the keeper Paul Daly's legs to deny the makeshift Millers a point that their efforts probably deserved.

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