Just 48 hours on from the 2-2 draw at Eastbourne Borough, there were three changes to the starting line up as Dan Gallagher, Jimmy Muitt and Alfie Rutherford came in for Brennan Camp, Seb Bowerman and Niall McManus respectively, the duo of Camp and Bowerman both ruled out following injuries suffered during Saturday’s fixture in East Sussex. Academy graduate Joel Brown was again named on the bench, alongside fellow midfielder and academy captain Neo Wooster.

The Millers fashioned the first opportunity of the game with just a couple of minutes on the clock; a loose Wanderers pass in midfield leading to a counter attack where Tyrese Owen’s central shot was blocked, a free kick was then awarded in the subsequent tussle for the ball just outside the box and Manny Ogunrinde’s effort on goal was gathered by Foulkes.

Much of the play had otherwise taken place in the Aveley half as Wanderers started to control possession, looking to bring Muitt and Briggs into play early out wide, but just before the quarter-hour mark the home side followed up their early efforts on goal by opened the scoring. A corner ball into the near post was only cleared as far as defender Harry Beadle, who connected sweetly with a volley to find the far corner of goal.

Despite being pushed back again by Wanderers after the goal, the hosts continued to demonstrate their knack for getting the ball into advanced areas quickly; Charlee Hughes hammering a pacey near post delivery from Owen just wide with a first time strike before a long ball over the top lined up almost perfectly for the Aveley striker to hit first time, but not quite able to get over the ball he could only direct the effort over the bar.

Josh Taylor dragged a shot off target after a good dribble forward by Carter, and Prior arrived too late onto a Muitt delivery aimed towards the back stick as Wanderers struggled to work goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn despite their possession, Craig also angling a header from a corner ball over the upright just before Aveley managed to double their advantage in the game on 33 minutes.

And to no doubt the frustration of Wanderers, it was another set piece and second phase combination that did the job for Danny Scope’s men; Jason Ring’s long throw into the penalty area only cleared a short distance before skipper Harry Gibbs lashed the ball into the back of the net from several yards out.

Entering first half storage time, Carter did manage to work Bloedorn with a save down at his near post after latching onto a through ball, and Wanderers bid to get back into the game was then strengthened as Aveley found themselves reduced to 10 men; full-back Alex Kpakpe dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for bringing down Briggs at the edge of the box. Muitt stepped up to take the resulting free kick, but Bloedorn was able to get down well and keep hold of the powerfully struck effort.

Marc White brought on Jordan Norville-Williams during the interval for his competitive debut after being ruled out since pre-season with injury, and the left-sided wing-back certainly played his part in Wanderers efforts to keep on the front-foot after the restart, consistently beating his marker and getting to the byline for crosses as the 10-man Millers, as expected, dropped deeper.

For all the efforts from both channels though, the numerous final ball deliveries were just not finding their targets and Aveley remained resistant throughout a second half which was almost entirely played out in the Millers half of the field.

Fuller would spurn the best chance of the half not long after the restart by sending a Pybus free kick over the bar from six yards out, and the Wanderers defender went close again midway through the half, not quite able to get a contact on a Norville-Williams cross just in front of goal.

Several minutes from time McManus swivelled an effort over the upright after a good lay off from Craig, and Josh Taylor set up a similar chance for Carter with an aerial knock-down, only for the Wanderers captain to blaze over.

Youngsters Joel Brown and Neo Wooster both came on in the latter stages for Wanderers to make their senior league debuts as the push for a way back into the game continued, Carter leading the charge with direct running towards the box, but approaching the end of regulation time, Aveley managed to add further gloss to the scoreline by adding a third. After picking up on a loose ball, David Kawa wrapped a clinical finish beyond Foulkes from just inside the area to make it 3-0 well and truly against the run of play.

A highlight on an otherwise bitterly disappointing night for Wanderers would occur in stoppage time with Brown capping his first senior league appearance with a goal; guiding the ball home from close range as Wanderers applied very late pressure inside the box and Aveley failed to clear their lines.

Lacking conviction in the final third as they have often shown already this term, and no doubt disappointed by the manner of the goals conceded tonight, Wanderers again paid the price on the road as their opponents took their chances and defended resolutely from there on out. The ongoing injury crisis also worsened for Marc White’s squad during tonight’s game, with Jason Prior, Jimmy Muitt and the returning Jordan Norville-Williams all suffering knocks.

The Wanderers boss will look to take stock between now and the weekend and re-group his squad ahead of the visit of Weymouth FC to Meadowbank on Saturday in a 3pm kick off.