It was a tightly contested game at Parkside on Saturday afternoon with second-placed Aveley coming out victors against Potters Bar after a goal in the first and last of the ninety minutes of the match sealed this one.

Aveley couldn’t have got off to a better start. Inside sixty seconds, George Wind found Matty Johnson, who played a ball inside to Fletcher Hubbard, who slid in Jayden Robinson. Robinson went in on goal and found the net with a neat left-footed finish.

Potters Bar had a flurry of chances throughout the first half, which they didn’t take. Brandon Adams held the ball up well and had three snapshots in quick succession, but blocks from Gipson and Henshaw ensured they couldn’t get through. Captain Cole Kpekawa had a header from a corner kick routine, but he headed over from ten yards out.

Ryan Blackman had his deflected effort from the edge of the area tipped over the crossbar Rylee Mitchell in the Aveley goal.

Into the second half, and Aveley could’ve easily scored within sixty seconds again of the start of a half. George Saunders centred for Toby Aromolaran, but his connection diverted the ball over the Potters Bar’s bar.

The visiting keeper made a number of saves to keep The Scholars in the game. Jayden Robinson was denied his and Aveley’s second from a free-kick and then from close range moments later, with Shattell equal to both of them. Shattell followed that up with a great reaction save, tipping away a rifled effort from Fletcher Hubbard.

Potters Bar believed they had equalised with ten minutes to go. A free-kick into the box saw the ball end up in the net; however, it was ruled out due to a foul on the Aveley keeper.

As time ticked into the 90th, Aveley had the opportunity to double their lead after Jesse Nwabueze was fouled inside the area. George Saunders stepped up and slotted home to seal the three points for Aveley.