MANAGER Darran Hay, not surprisingly, started with the same line up as Tuesday evening and despite Arlesey making a slow start they battled through to record an excellent 1-0 victory at Aveley on Saturday. Stuart Beevor in a defensive partnership with Ja

MANAGER Darran Hay, not surprisingly, started with the same line up as Tuesday evening and despite Arlesey making a slow start they battled through to record an excellent 1-0 victory at Aveley on Saturday.

Stuart Beevor in a defensive partnership with James Gray, provided a formidable platform for a workmanlike midfield that eventually outlasted the home resolve.

This current side has several deficiencies but team spirit and commitment are not their shortcomings and their obvious delight at the final whistle was nothing more than they deserved.

Luke Bliss made an excellent stop from a Tuohy volley following a right wing move that had exposed the visitors' defence, and at the other end Martyn Williams volleyed wide from a Lee Tekell free-kick.

Aveley were busy in midfield but apart from two headers in quick succession from Tuohy and Edwards that could have given them the lead the game was a stalemate.

Kaan Fehmi and Beevor made excellent tackles to break up home attacks and from a Paul Bloss left wing run both Michael McKenzie and Ossie Foster failed to get in shots on target.

The second half saw Arlesey come more into the contest as an attacking force and Craig Rydehard hit a fierce shot that was collected at the second attempt by home keeper Palmer.

Beevor saved the day on two occasions firstly with a fine tackle on Edwards when he burst goal side then, blocking a shot from Adejokun when Steve Dogbe had misplaced his clearance inside the box.

Both James Gray and Beevor were booked along with Halle for a poor tackle on Fehmi.

With time running out in the 89th minute, Fehmi played the ball inside the left of the Aveley defence for Michael MacKenzie to draw keeper Palmer and finish in clinical style.