FREEMAN NETS FOR MILLERS

AVELEY continued their push for promotion after beating Felixstowe & Walton United 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.

The hosts struck first after Tom Richardson beat his man and fired past the keeper from a narrow angle but Rhys Henry and Jack Ainsley hit back for the visitors to turn the game on its head.

But the game swung back the other way when Aveley were awarded a penalty after 50 minutes, which was calmly converted by Firmin Ngandu.

Andy Freeman then showed a cool head of his own as he converted a one-on-one to hand Aveley a crucial three points. Elsewhere, Brentwood Town recorded a 3-2 home win of their own in an entertaining clash against Great Wakering Rovers.

Ex-Brentwood forward Shomari Barnwell shot Rovers into a seventhminute lead but Ernest Okoh squared things up six minutes later.

Alfie Hilton put the Blues in front four minutes after half-time and the home side looked comfortable when Okoh hit his second of the game in the 55th minute.

Jake Gordon reduced the deficit on the hour from the penalty spot but Great Wakering went down to ten men when George Cox was redcarded in the 74th minute as they failed to equalise late on.

Meanwhile, Coggeshall earned their first win of the new year with a comfortable 3-0 win over Soham Town Rangers.

They took the lead early on through a header from striker Nnamdi Nwachuku and extended their advantage at the start of the second half after Michael Gyasi latched on to a loose ball and hit his effort through a crowd of players into the bottom corner.

Minutes later, Coggeshall sealed the victory when Conor Hubble set up George Cocklin, who hit an effort with the outside of his foot into the top corner of the net.

There was late drama in the game between Bury

Town and Canvey Island as Kyran Clements equalised in the 94th minute for the hosts to earn them a 1-1 draw. Canvey took the lead with just six minutes on the clock after Josh Hutchinson picked up the ball and hit a powerful low and driven strike from distance that beat the Bury keeper Luis Tibbles.

After the break, Town had more of the possession and deep into injury time Jake Chambers-Shaw put in a brilliant cross for Clements to snatch a point for his side. Two own goals gifted

Mildenhall Town a 2-0 win over Witham Town.

Kevin Coyle put the ball in his own net after 13 minutes, and then Danny Norton did the same just before half-time to ensure a comfortable victory for Mildenhall. Elsewhere, Basildon

United slumped to a 3-0 home defeat in their fixture against Tilbury.

George Sykes gave the visitors the lead before Lewis Smith struck just before half-time to give them a healthy advantage going into the break.

Smith got his brace after 73 minutes to compound a miserable day out for United fans. Dereham Town failed to make their shock lead count against high-flying Heybridge Swifts as they eventually lost 3-1.

Town went ahead early on through Joe Gatting, but Swifts improved considerably after the break.

First, Kreshnic Krasniqi equalised and then 13 minutes later Matthew Price gave the Swifts a one-goal advantage.

Luke Wilson sealed the victory at Aldiss Park on 83 minutes to ensure Dereham stay struggling as they sit four points adrift at the bottom of the table. The local derby between

Romford and Barking ended in a disappointing 00 stalemate.

Neither side created anything in a match with lots of huff and puff but very little end product.

Only deep into injury time did the game come to life with both teams going close to grabbing an undeserved winner in a match which was not one for the purists.

Romford are still struggling in 19th while Barking sit 12th.