A dramatic late penalty saw Aveley continue their impressive start to the season, but for Rovers, it was heartbreaks all round as what appeared to be a tremendous fight back from 2-0 down, was enough to grab a well earned point.

The Millers started well, with Retkoceri denied by a flying save from young keeper, Charlie Huntley, whilst Leon Gordon came close up the other end. Sherwin Stanley and Taylor Tombides were then denied by the Rovers stopper, but he was helpless to prevent the opener. Retkoceri unleashed from 25 yards after 16 minutes to open the scoring.
George Woodward was then kept out but it was Aveley that were on top in the first period.

A single goal in it at the break , Tombides and Abs Symour looked to extend that advantage after the break before the second goal did come. Substitute and ex-Rovers Michael Pindy, timed his run perfectly to race onto a ball and slide it past Huntley with 15 minutes remaining.

But out of nothing, Rovers were back in it when Kyle Asante, on just his second appearance for the club, flashed the ball past Lamar Jonson. Nick Hilder could have pulled Rovers level barely 2 minutes later, his header flashing wide of the far post. And with 5 minutes remaining, Tommy Spillane headed in off the bar to draw Rovers level and a point was on the cards.

But the drama wasn't over yet. Stanleys strike on the stroke of full time was adjudged to be blocked by the hand of Rovers captain John Easterford who was sent off for the offence. The resulting penalty was converted by Billy Coyne to complete an exciting game, albeit a frustrating one for Rovers boss Gary Ansell.

Ansell admitted "I couldn't fault any player for that second half and it was probably the best we've played in one half of a game this season".