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Gulls were very much second best against an Aveley side who belied their lowly league position and managed their first win in the league this season.

Canvey started brightly and created the better chances in a lively start to the game.

After 2 minutes, Michael Alaile headed off target from Alex Rhodes’ right wing corner and then Danny Heale picked up a weak clearance from Millers’ keeper Dave McCartney but from 35 yards his speculative volley dropped wide of the goal.

After a decent opening, Gulls started to get sloppy especially in defence. They looked sluggish in midfield where Matt Game and Robbie King failed to impose themselves and Aveley’s pace and strength in attack was constantly causing Canvey problems.

In attack, Heale and Leon Gordon made little impact and Aveley’s full backs were able to contain Rhodes and Jay Curran down the wings who both had very subdued games.

Sherwin Stanley was the first to go close for the Millers with a header wide from a free kick on 15 minutes.

The next opportunity fell the way of Sean Bonnett Johnson on 21 minutes when he fired in an ambitious volley from 30 yards that took a deflection and bobbled wide of the target.

From the resulting corner, Steve Sheehan was forced to hack the ball off the line with the rebound falling to a Millers’ player on the edge of the penalty area but James Russell was alert enough to parry a fierce low shot away from danger.

Aveley took the lead on 35 minutes. Bonnett Johnson was fouled in the penalty area and up stepped former Watford and Burnley midfielder Micah Hyde to slot the ball past Russell from the resulting penalty and into the net.

Aveley suffered an injury blow when they had to replace Ellis Remy five minutes before half time but this failed to curtail their momentum.

Another sloppy goal on 49 minutes pretty much sealed the game for Aveley. Jay Curran lost possession and former Gull Daniel Francis broke down the left and sent in a low cross that eventually reached Stanley who poked home into the unguarded net.

Canvey pushed forward in a desperate attempt to get back into the game. They brought on Antonio Gonnella and Andrew West for Curran and Alaile respectively and Gonnella at least provided a bit of a spark and some invention on the right wing with his direct running at defenders.

Gonnella was unlucky on 70 minutes when he broke through down the right hand side of the penalty area but McCartney stood up well and was able to force the winger wide with the keeper eventually blocking his shot.

The resulting corner saw Rhodes deliver the ball to the near post but King’s bullet header was blocked on the line well by Donovan Wilson.

Gonnella had another chance on 83 minutes when he broke into the penalty area but McCartney saved well with his legs. Time was running out for Canvey and their attacking attempts were looking increasingly desperate.

Sheehan was sent up front in a vain effort to save something from the game but in injury time, Aveley rubbed salt into the Canvey wounds with Francis snatching a goal against his former employers.

The midfielder did well to break through a static Canvey defence and showed great poise to tuck the ball past Russell.

The whistle blew moments later to complete a thoroughly miserable night for the Gulls who now slip to fourth in the league table.