Urchins trip to Aveley off

Hornchurch’s friendly at Aveley tonight has been called off, it has been revealed.

Millers boss Justin Gardner confirmed the fixture would not now take place, after the two clubs endured contrasting fortunes in their latest league outings at the weekend.

Urchins ran out 3-0 winners over Basingstoke in Conference South, while Millers slumped to a 4-1 home defeat against Wroxham in their Ryman Division One North meeting.

Joe Woolley kept Basingstoke at bay in a goalless first half, before Leon McKenzie broke the deadlock early in the second half.

McKenzie touched home an Andy Tomlinson free-kick to open the scoring and netted again from close range when Frankie Curley’s header was blocked.

Wayne Gray deflected a Lewis Smith shot past former Urchins keeper Ashley Bayes to seal the points as Jimmy McFarlane’s men climbed up to 12th in the table.

Aveley finished with nine men after a frustrating afternoon at Mill Field.

Jamie Speller put the visitors ahead before Aveley keeper Jason Willis was shown a straight red card following a clash with Wroxham’s Ross Durrant.

Gavin Lemon converted the resulting penalty, past stand-in keeper Ellis Sands, and Speller made it 3-0 just after the break.

Jordan Cox was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence and Durrant made it 4-0 with a shot which deflected in off Jay Leader.

Paul Burnett tucked home a consolation for Aveley, after good work from Petrit Elbi, as they saw their promotion hopes hit by a second successive loss.