MATCH REPORT - Aveley - 12/12/25

Aveley 3 (Harris 17, 18, 38) – Billericay Town 3 (Long 8, 56, Scott 68)

Chris Harris’ remarkable first half hat trick proved insufficient for Aveley as a spirited second half comeback from Billericay Town saw the points shared in a breathless contest at Parkside on Friday evening. Harris’ treble overturned an early Elliot Long opener, but goals after the break from Long and Ryan Scott earned the Blues a deserved point on the road.

The opening goal arrived inside eight minutes and came courtesy of a defensive error, as Aveley defender Jayden Gipson was caught in possession, allowing Long a clear run through on goal, and he kept his composure to slot past Joe Wright and give Ricay the lead.

That advantage lasted just eight minutes as the Harris show began. Harry Critchley’s long ball picked out the Aveley forward, who brought it under control before finishing calmly from close range to restore parity.

The Millers then struck again barely a minute later. A dangerous delivery from the right evaded Ricay defender Tommy Davis and fell kindly for Harris, who made no mistake in firing into the corner to put the hosts ahead, despite strong appeals for handball from the visitors.

Aveley were now in full control and went close to extending their lead midway through the half, but Toby Tinubu’s powerful drive was superbly tipped over by Sam Donkin. Billericay offered a brief response through Jack Evans, though his effort from inside the box failed to trouble Wright.

Donkin was again called into action to deny Ryan Charles with a fine reaction save, but the keeper was powerless to prevent Harris completing his hat trick seven minutes before the break. The Aveley forward darted in at the near post to turn home a corner via the underside of the bar, capping a sensational individual first half.

Billericay finished the half strongly and should have reduced the deficit when Frankie Merrifield spurned a golden chance from six yards, but the hosts went in deservedly ahead at the interval.

The second half saw a much-improved Billericay performance. Liam Nash forced Wright into a save moments after the restart, and the visitors’ pressure told on 56 minutes when Long snuck in unmarked at the back post to head home Keon Lewis-Burgess’ cross.

Harris nearly added a fourth soon after, but his header was comfortable for Donkin, and from then on it was one way traffic for the Blues. This pressure told with 22 minutes remaining, as Billericay drew level when Evans’ free kick was knocked down and Scott reacted quickest to fire home against his former club.

The Blues pushed hard for a winner as the second half wore on, with Wright increasingly called into action. The Aveley goalkeeper did well to deny both Nash and Evans, while Long saw an effort flash narrowly wide as Billericay applied all the pressure.

In stoppage time, the visitors came agonisingly close to completing the turnaround. A devastating counter attack ended with Evans unmarked inside the area, but the midfielder could only volley over from close range.

There was still time for one final twist at the other end. In the 93rd minute, Harris struck the outside of the post before Matt Johnson hacked the ball clear from the goal line to preserve a share of the spoils.

The result extends Aveley’s unbeaten league run to eleven matches, while Billericay end the evening the happier side after salvaging an unlikely point.

Aveley: Wright; Tinubu, Henshaw, Gipson, Critchley; Reynolds, Robinson (Haysom 83); Charles (Ogunrinde 69), Peters, Saunders; Harris

Subs not used: Nwabueze, Igbo, Colyer

Billericay Town: Donkin; Davis (Watts 46), Scott, Johnson; Lewis-Burgess, Miller-Rodney, Evans, Porter; Nash, Long, Merrifield

Subs not used: Parsons, Owen, Izekor, Steward

Referee: Oliver Kaya

Attendance: 491

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