Written By Jack Webb
Calvin Brooks’ 44th-minute strike sealed a vital three points this afternoon versus Aveley at Parkside.
Our full-back’s winner came towards the end of the first half, after smashing the ball into the top-right corner at a tight angle.
In truth, it was a long-time coming, our players peppering Carey Bloedorn’s goal throughout the opening 45 minutes.
We then held firm after the break, as we secured our first clean sheet in 15 league games.
More importantly, today’s win takes us off the foot of the table, just five points off safety.
First-half dominance
It actually took 12 minutes for our first sight at goal to occur, after which the hosts had already come within inches of taking the lead.
After their initial free-kick was kept out by our wall, Ibby Akbani blasted the ball towards goal, his effort being close enough to appear as though he had put his side in front.
Luckily, his strike landed just right of the net.
Eight minutes later saw us attack The Millers for the first time, when Jaiden Bartolo was picked out by Brooklyn Genesini with a cross from the right.
Though the Aveley goalkeeper held firm and kept out our forward.
However, this chance appeared to awaken our attack, our next opportunity coming just three minutes later.
It started with a piece of one-touch play down the left-hand side, culminating in Keelan O’Connell finding Euan Pollock with a low cross.
Though Euan’s effort was blocked, this was just the start of Keelan carving through the Aveley defence with his creative passing.
He found Euan again in the 22nd minute with a deep cross, our man on the other wing heading just wide, albeit under heavy pressure from the opposition.
We wouldn’t stop there, though, Euan being the creator just three minutes later.
The winger spotted Ben Greenwood on the edge of the box who, after having his first strike blocked, fired over the bar on the second attempt.
Though we were yet to fully capitalise on our early action, few could argue that the first goal would head our way, should it arrive.
After the game briefly settled, we would attack again just over five minutes before the break, when Keelan once again found Euan inside the box.
Instinctively, Euan slid a cute ball to Jaiden, who saw the ball intercepted before he could fire towards Bloedorn’s goal.
Two minutes before added time once again saw Euan and Keelan prove quite the partnership, Keelan being on the receiving end this time.
He had been played through via a chip through-ball from his partner-in-crime, before being denied by Bloedorn towards his left.
With the clock ticking towards the break, time was running out for us to find a first-half opener.
Until Calvin had the ball at his feet.
His powerful tight-angle strike proved too much for the Aveley shot-stopper, who could only see the ball fly into the roof of the net.
At last we were a goal ahead, and we could head down the tunnel with rewards being reaped for our hard work.
Fireworks in Essex
Unsurprisingly, the first chance of the second half was created by Keelan, whose perfect through-ball allowed Jaiden to sprint through on-goal.
The youngster may have doubled our lead had it not been for a last-ditch challenge by Brooklyn Kabongolo.
Though as the half began to progress, it would be us called into action.
Luckily we had Will Buse to rely on, who bravely stopped Tyrese Owen from close range in the 57th minute.
But testament to our consistency, it only took us three minutes to strike back.
Brooklyn Genesini picked out Andreas Robinson on the edge of the box, whose strike flew over the bar.
By this point we were on the back foot, as Will would keep us in the lead one again six minutes after the hour-mark, diving to his right to prevent an equaliser.
Robbo would then attempt an ambitious half-volley on the edge of the box as the game had now reached its final quarter.
With “squeaky bum time” now on the way, we did little to slow down, Jordan Maguire-Drew’s powerful low crosses just missing our attack.
Soon enough we were in stoppage time, Ezio Touray smartly running down the clock by winning multiple fouls near the corner flag.
In the meantime the hosts were unable to find an equaliser, as we ran out deserved 1-0 winners, our valiant team walking over to clap our supporters.
Fittingly, fireworks erupted as we celebrated our second league victory of the season.
Alongside us now finally lifting ourselves off the foot of the table, we are comfortably in our best form of the season so far, losing just once in our last seven league games.
Just in time for our trip to table-toppers Weston-Super-Mare this Tuesday [19.45 GMT].
