Ryman One North: Barkingside 2 Aveley 0

A goal in either half sealed a vital win for Barkingside in their quest for Ryman One North survival over 10-man Aveley.

Matt Gulfer and a late strike from Calvin Poku sealed the three points, though the visitors saw Petrit Elbi sent off for a supposed stamp on Side centre half Matt Waldron.

After a slow start from the hosts, Steve Carvell shot straight at Aveley goalkeeper Stevie Sutton, before Paul Burnett rattled the crossbar with his inswinging corner on nine minutes.

But five minutes later Barkingside took the lead when Gulfer’s pinpoint curling free-kick found the net, though Sutton maybe should have done better with the effort.

In truth chances were few and far between, though the hosts dominated much of the half.

Chaz Liddiard was played through on goal on 23 minutes but Sutton got the slightest of touches to divert the ball behind for a corner.

And in a rare opportunity for the visitors Tunji Oyewale paced away from the hosts defence only to shoot wide, while Gulfer’s stoppage time corner sailed past everyone in the box as the hosts ended the half in front.

Despite the Millers chasing the game, Chris Clark was rarely tested in the Barkingside as Brian Suchley shot over for Matt Frew’s side and half-time substitute Poku failed to connect to a fine teasing ball over from Chaz Liddiard.

Aveley introduced top goalscorer Kyle Asante and Petrit Elbi off the bench to try and spark them into life, but even that failed to lift the sluggish Millers.

He and Asante collided when trying to finish off a Burnett centre, but Elbi was then shown his marching orders 13 minutes from time when appearing to stand on Waldron.

A Liddiard shot drifted just over the bar late on with Carvell open to his right, though the Millers did have a late chance to nick a draw.

It came to Asante but his fierce shot could only find the side netting and the home side made sure of all three points with a fine individual move in stoppage time.

Receiving the ball wide on the right he drifted in before unleashing a curling effort over Sutton to send the home bench delirious.

Barkingside moved out of the relegation zone with the win, though Ware have six games in hand, and only trail Side by three points.

The likeliest rivals at the bottom though are Wroxham, with Frew’s charges trailing the Yatchsmen by a point, though they have played two games less.

But if they continue to play like they did last night then they certainly won’t have too many concerns.

Barkingside: Clark, Hayes (Poku 46), Rolls, Ellul, Waldron, Suchley, Onireti, Oxby, Carvell, Gulfer, Liddiard (Taylor 88).

Unused substitutes: Ellis, Francis.

Aveley: Sutton, Osifuwa, Nathaniel, Leader, Golby, Okwera, Burnett (Bakare 82), Holland, Weemes (Asante 63), Tabiri (Elbi 63), Oyewale.

Unused substitutes: Artakiev, Stevenson.

Attendance: 82