Steve Mosely is on the look out for players to halt Aveley's worst run of the season.

Of particular interest are those formerly with East Thurrock and Witham who have both been hit by financial troubles.

Defeat in a high octane derby on Tuesday night was Millers' fifth without a win and the Ryman Three title is beginning to look out of reach.

On the positive side though their performance was a lot better than of late and before Hornchurch's best crowd of the season - 225- the visitors were slighly unfortunate not to collect a point.

One new player was on view if only for the last 15 minutes when former East Thurrock combative midfielder, Jimmy Stevens, came off the bench.

Aveley made an encouraging start with Mark Robson's intellingent probing and the lively Jamie Reilly forcing Paul Wood to tip a shot on to an upright.

So it was very much against the run of play that Hornchurch went ahead on 27 minutes. The goal though did expose Aveley's lack of pace at the back with the diminutive and speedy Craig Cripps the scorer.

Within two minutes Millers were back on level terms with Reilly turning to fire home Billy Goldstone's long throw.

But right on the break, a former Aveley player, 39-year-old Glen Dyson, started the move which led to Kevin Marsden striking impressively from outside the box.

Kenny Leslie had a header cleared off the line by Ian Bowers, but generally Hornchurch were on top during a second half of few scoring opportunities.

Published Wednesday, March 13, 2002