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With regulars Ashley Dumas, Andrew West and Michael Alaile unavailable and with Kevin Dobinson and Matt Game still carrying slight knocks, Canvey were forced into making changes to the side that started the previous week, though striker Danny Heale returned from his injury picked up a few weeks ago. Steve Ward and Jamie Matthews were handed rare starts with Danny Kerrigan retaining his place in midfield.

The Gulls started brightly with Alex Rhodes and Bradley Woods-Garness causing problems for the Millers defence; after only 5 minutes a mistake by Danny Smith allowed Rhodes to feed a ball through to Woods-Garness, only for his resulting shot to be deflected just wide.

Jay Curran never gave Aveley a moments peace and his great work created the first real chance of the match. Winning the ball on the wing on 10 minutes, he cut inside and fed the ball through to Rhodes whose powerful shot was pushed wide well by Adam Rafis.

Only a moment later a fantastic long-range effort by Woods-Garness looked to be well off target, but it dipped viciously, though only enough to hit the crossbar and go out for a goal-kick.

Canvey's dominance and pressure finally paid off after 18 minutes when a fantastic floated free-kick by Steve Ward found Robbie King, his directed header went to John Easterford who steered the ball in with his head into the top corner, and way past the keeper.

Aveley started to force their way back into the game, creating a real chance on 22 minutes forcing James Russell to hold onto a powerful low shot by Abs Thompson. Canvey responded by forcing Rafis to save a Curran shot at his near post from a well worked counter attack.

A few minutes later Aveley's Paul Shave found himself with a free-header in the Canvey box from Joe Keith's corner - fortunately for the Gulls' defence he headed well wide. Shave had an even better chance 10 minutes later, this time from a Keith free-kick. Again his unmarked header fell well wide.

Just before half-time, Canvey made Aveley pay for their missed chances when a long free-kick from Russell caught the Millers' defence off-guard with Woods-Garness running beyond them, bringing the ball down before placing a shot beyond the advancing Rafis.

Canvey continued their dominance at the start of the second half, with Curran again causing problems for the Aveley backline, but his shot was saved well by Rafis.

Again, Aveley started to force their way back into the game and their hard work paid off on the hour mark with David Knight vollying Shave's clearance past Russell. Aveley continued to pile pressure onto the Gulls with Shave's free-header 10 minutes later going wide for the third time.

Canvey continued to craft their own chances out with Rafis making a fantastic save to deny substitute Jason Hallett a goal from a close-range header after connecting well to a Rhodes cross.

Perhaps inevitably, Aveley equalised soon after. Knight scored his second of the game on 80 minutes after being the first to respond to a rebound from a Russell save. Sam Holloway's point-blank header looked to be certain for goal, but much like the Rafis save moments earlier, Russell paried well only for Knight to smash the rebound into the open net.

Canvey responded brightly, crafting a number of shots in search for the winner. Kevin Dobinson - fresh from the bench - cut inside on 85 minutes to have a clear look at goal, however his shot was fired well over the bar. Minutes later Hallett forced Rafis into another fingertip save, this time from a Rhodes header into the box.

The Gulls' pressure finally found the breakthrough they were looking for on 89 minutes as Jason Hallett rounded right-back Danny Smith, chipping the ball through to man of the match Jay Curran who headed the ball into the open net.

Just as everyone thought the game was up, Jason Hallett did well to close down Rafis whose attempted clearance was put straight into the backside of Hallett. The keeper then turned to watch a nightmare unfold from some 20-yards out, as the ball rolled into the goal.

This was a well fought victory for the Gulls and the 3 points were certainly deserved, however Aveley will feel slightly aggrieved after clawing their way back from 2 goals down.

The next challenge for Canvey will be in the Ryman League Cup away at Lowestoft Town on Tuesday night.