The Blues started the match the liveliest as they looked to carry their good league form into the cup. David Cowley and Joao Carlos took the game forward looking to break down a solid looking Aveley defence and the foraging Craig Pope looked dangerous as he backed up Cowley.

It was Pope who created the first chance of the game as he found Kenny Beaney clear on the right to put an accurate cross onto the head of Carlos as Grays took the lead in the sixth minute to surprise the Millers defence.

Aveley were not to be denied, though, as from the kick off they moved forward and Micah Hyde forced a throw in on the right. A long throw in by Donovan Wilson found Spencer Harrison clear and his looping header dropped into the net, as the Blues defence stood rooted, to level for Aveley inside two minutes.

The half settled as both sides kept up a high pace rhythm searching to take control. Carlos ran hard and almost added to his tally when a cross from Cowley and a glance from Louis Dennis found him clear but his shot slipped wide. Aveley came forward when Sean Johnson found space to put a cross to the head of Sherwin but the ball went harmlessly wide.

A hard hit shot from Harry Agombar was charged down by Dave McCartney in the Millers goal. A poor clearance from the below par Andy Hall went straight Ellis Remy, but his cross was thankfully held by Hall. Remy again found himself clear and a superb tackle by Beaney stopped the charge.

The Blues upped the pace and went looking for the lead as Junior Baker and Dennis both put shots wide. Aveley broke clear when Stanley picked up a loose ball and ran wide. His long cross looked to be going over when it dipped under the bar to drop into the goal score an unlikely goal as the Blues defence looked sheepish. The Millers were now on top and pressurised to try to extend their lead as both Hyde and Johnson had chances put wide. Half time arrived as the Blues started to look ragged.

Aveley had the first chance of the second period as they moved forward and Remy saw his shot skim the top of the bar, but Grays rallied as they pushed to level the match. A Dennis cross found Carlos but his shot rebounded out to Agombar, his hard hit shot hitting the post to deny a goal. Another cross, from Pope found Carlos, but his header went wide.
The Blues just had the edge but could not take their chances and this started to tell as the game settled into a long ball tussle. A long ball by Reece Morgan found Stanley clear and his shot hit the bar. Beaney hit a long pass to Carlos and his cross was headed onto the bar by Bradley Thomas.

Sweeney came on for a tired Dennis as the Blues looked to pierce the away defence but as hard as they tried the Millers held firm. The end-to-end play looked to have gone Aveley’s way when Stanley found himself clear to slot the ball past Hall only to be harshly judged offside.

A double substitution late in the half for Grays saw Jared Small and Eljay Worrell come on for Jean-Michel Sigere and Carlos but, although the pace of Small caused the Millers problems, the time was drifting away from the Blues as Aveley ran into the corners to run down the half and frustrate the home side.

An entertaining match ended with Aveley moving into the next round and the Blues suffering their first competitive defeat of the season.

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Craig Pope, Junior Baker, Bradley Thomas, Lee Flynn, Joao Carlos (Eljay Worrell 86), Kenny Beaney, Harry Agombar, David Cowley, Jean-Michel Sigere (Jared Small 82), Louis Dennis (Joe Sweeney 65)

Subs not used: - Ali Aksoy, Richard Oxby, Joe McEvoy, Jason Fontaine.

Aveley: - Dave McCartney, Ryan Andrews, Donovan Wilson, Tony Russell, Spencer Harrison, Reece Morgan, Joey May, Micah Hyde, Sherwin Stanley (Lewis Warren 90), Ellis Remy, Sean Bonnett-Johnson (Daniel Francis 71).

Subs not used: - Cory Griffiths, Kunle Adekoyyejo, Ryan Stalley, Charlie Reed.