Millers Grind Out Home Win - Aveley vs. Hetford Town

Parkside under lights

Since my trip to Guernsey earlier in the year, I've been getting close to completing the Ryman League. I had just the five grounds left to visit and with Aveley playing on Friday night I had a chance to get closer to the full house. Around the same time last year, I paid one last visit to Aveley's fantastic Mill Field for a match with Haringey Borough and they have now of course moved to the fancy new Parkside. Their opponents on this evening were Hertford Town. When I visited  Hertingfordbury Park, it was for an FA Vase tie with Mauritius Sports Association which shows how long ago it was. Hertford were promoted from The South Midlands League last season and had adopted well to life at the higher level. Aveley have had an indifferent start to the season and were just above the relegation places at the start of play. 

Kick off on the plastic at Parkside

I lost my pen before kick off and it was too cold to take notes on my phone so this is a severely abridged match report! Hertford take a early lead and are well on top in the opening stages. Aveley however turn the game around with two close range finishes following set plays. Hertford push on in the closing stages and are caught out as Aveley sell the game late on.

Aveley defend a Hertford attack in the first half

To get to Aveley from London, you have to take a train to Rainham from Fenchurch Street and a short walk from the station you catch the 372 into Aveley. From here it is a ten minute walk along The High Street and then Park Lane to the ground. The walk along The High Street takes you past The Crown and Anchor and The Old Ship Inn both of which are lively locals. The bar at the ground had a good selection of drinks as well as the sports channels. The bacon burgers are also highly recommended.

Further seating opposite the main stand

Still Foggy In Essex - Aveley vs. Haringey Borough

The stand is out there somewhere

The final weekend of the Christmas period provided plenty of options for football. I opted for a Friday / Saturday combination and my first match was Aveley against Haringey Borough in The Ryman League Division One North. As with my last in Essex at Coggeshall, I had concerns on my way to the ground regarding fog but the game just about survived. This was the last scheduled mid week game for Aveley at Mill Field before they move to a new ground next season. I'd visited Mill Field before for an FA Trophy tie with Carshalton many seasons ago. Aveley also featured in one of the most incredible games I'd ever seen - an exhilarating last day match with East Thurrock on the last day of the season where they snatched the title. When I went to Haringey Borough's Coles Park when they were still in The South Midlands League. There have been many changes since, namely the introduction of an artificial pitch. Both sides needed the points - Aveley to cement their play off place while Haringey wanted to keep in touch with the sides in the play off places already.

Conditions at kick off at Mill Field

As you can see from the pictures, conditions weren't the best and was at times difficult to tell which team was which on the opposite side of the pitch. I could see enough to see Aveley take the lead in the first half when the forward is played in on goal and he makes no mistake to make it one nil. Then in the second half, they double their lead when the attacker slots in at the back post following a cross from the left. Haringey get a late goal back but Aveley hold on for the win.

An Aveley throw in the first half

I fully recommend a visit to Mill Field before the end of the season, it really is a fantastic ground. To get there from London you have to take a train from Fenchurch Street to Rainham which takes just over twenty minutes. Then from the station you can take the 372 into Aveley and this takes ten minutes if traffic isn't too bad. Pub wise in Aveley there is The Old Ship Inn and The Crown And Anchor which are both friendly locals that had decent selections of beer. The ground is then a steady five minute walk from the village. The clubhouse was welcoming and also had BT Sports. The bacon burgers from the tea hut are also worth trying out.  

Close up view of the stand