Ryman League Division One North Aveley 2 Potters Bar Town 0 POTTERS Bar Town boss Steve Browne did not enjoy a winning return to former club Aveley on Saturday. He could only watch on as the Scholars were beaten 2-0 at Mill Field. Browne also saw his st

Ryman League Division One North

Aveley 2 Potters Bar Town 0

POTTERS Bar Town boss Steve Browne did not enjoy a winning return to former club Aveley on Saturday.

He could only watch on as the Scholars were beaten 2-0 at Mill Field.

Browne also saw his striker and fellow former Miller Sam Adejokun get sent off.

A lack of firepower and composure in front of goal was again the reason Bar lost to a side they should have beaten.

Goals three minutes from the start and end of the match gave the points to Aveley.

It was a missed opportunity for Bar to pull further clear of the drop zone as relegation rivals Ilford, Wivenhoe and Tilbury all lost.

The hosts went ahead after their first attack of the game.

Centre half Sean Francis took advantage as Potters Bar failed to clear a corner.

He whacked a long-range shot past visiting keeper Tope Okeowo and in off the post.

For the next 42 minutes it was largely a tale of Potters Bar pressure and their missed chances.

The first came to forward Adejokun just four minutes after the opening goal.

Against his former club he found himself free in the box, only to be blocked by an alert Aveley defender.

Two minutes later a Junior Dadson cross picked out Adejokun but he could get little power in the header.

With just 18 minutes gone it was again Adejokun causing problems for the Aveley defence.

This time he was released by a fine through ball from Nathan Smith, only to be thwarted by a well-timed John Maskell tackle.

Aveley almost extended the lead moments later as Bradley Barnes was put in with keeper Okeowo making a brave stop at his feet.

Okeowo was in action again seconds later, pulling off a remarkable double save, first from Ainsley Gasper and then Leli Bajada as Aveley failed to capitalise on a rare error from assured defender Precious Koko.

The Potters Bar faithful were calling for a penalty midway through the first period as Adejokun wriggled free in the box only to be fouled by Sam Holloway.

The assistant referee flagged for a foul but the referee wrongly deemed the offence to have taken place outside the area.

Darryl Wilson pulled his shot wide of the target from the resulting free-kick.

As the Scholars continued to press, a Koko pass found Wilson, who was quickly closed down in the area before he could get a shot away.

Minutes later debutant Jean Sylvain Doussou played in Adejokun, but again the shot was blocked.

Aveley responded as Barnes brought another fine save from the alert Okeowo.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first.

Dane Springer almost levelled the scores in the 47th minute, but his shot came off the upright with home stopper Adam Rafis beaten.

The Millers threatened to kill off the game as a Christian Wheeler shot hit the bar.

Potters Bar countered with Nathan Smith going on a fine run into the penalty area but his right-foot shot flew narrowly over the bar.

With three minutes left on the clock, the game was effectively ended.

Bjada snapped up a close-range effort as he followed up on a fine save by Okeowo to double the home side's lead.

The Scholars then found themselves unjustifiably reduced to 10 men in stoppage time as Adejokun was harshly cautioned twice in a minute and shown the red card.