Early goal ends Aveley hopes

Aveley’s hopes of lifting the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in their history were shattered by Billericay last night.

Barely a minute had been played when Adam Flanagan drove a low free-kick into the bottom corner of the net to put Billericay, looking for their first Essex Senior Cup since 1976, ahead.

Harrison Chatting doubled their advantage 11 minutes before the break with a fine curling shot and Millers, beaten 1-0 when the two sides met in the Ryman Premier Division on Saturday, had no reply in front of a 472-strong crowd at Ship Lane.

Kurt Smith had Aveley’s best chance, six minutes from time, but saw his shot deflected behind.

Manager Carl Griffiths will now hope his men can rouse themselves to climb out of the relegation zone in the final weeks of the season.

They are four points adrift of safety and welcome Margate to Mill Field on Saturday.

Tenants Romford, meanwhile, return to Ryman One North action tonight with a trip to lowly Redbridge, having seen their play-off hopes all but mathematically ended by a 2-0 home defeat against Brentwood at the weekend.