BASILDON United’s unbeaten start to the Isthmian North season came to an end as they were beaten by Aveley for the second time in seven days.

Just a week after losing to the Millers in the FA Trophy, goals from Alex Akrofi and Tom Richardson meant Eljay Worrell’s late penalty was only enough for the Bees to lose 2-1 at Parkside.

It was Aveley who took the lead inside the first minute in the cup tie only seven days earlier, but the visitors got the first shot away in the league encounter as Brian Moses’ low effort was easily gathered.

The Millers’ first strike of the evening came less than five minutes later as Andy Freeman’s shot went over the crossbar.

Moses came close to putting the table-topping visitors in front when the unmarked striker met a deep free-kick with an acrobatic effort. While Aveley goalkeeper David Hughes was rooted to the spot, the volley went wide of the target.

Conor Mead then tried his luck from long-range, but Hughes was equal to the effort.

Bees goalkeeper Connor Wheatley pulled off a fine save to deny Harry Gibbs, whose close-range header looked destined for the back of the net, but the Millers were awarded a penalty from the resulting corner.

And Akrofi sent Wheatley the wrong way to break the deadlock just before the half hour mark.

The Bees came close to getting back on level terms less than two minutes after the interval as Hughes pulled off a wonderful save to tip Worrell’s low strike wide.

However, the hosts doubled their advantage soon after as Richardson expertly found the bottom corner of the net after latching onto Akrofi’s through ball.

Akrofi looked to claim his second goal of the night, but his snapshot went straight down Wheatley’s throat.

Basildon came close to halving the deficit, but glancing headers from Moses and Worrell went past the post.

Moses went on an impressive run, with no Millers defenders able to put a tackle in, but Hughes was off his line and dived at the former Redbridge frontman’s feet before he could get a shot away.

Hughes was alert once again as he dived to his right to thwart Mead, but Marc Harrison’s side were handed a lifeline with six minutes remaining as Worrell fired home from the penalty spot after being brought down.

However, the Bees – who had captain Tommy Barton sent off in the dying moments – were unable to find an equaliser and second-placed Aveley closed the gap at the top of the Isthmian North standings to four points.

Aveley: Hughes, Pitty, Mvemba, Doyle (Milner 68), Gibbs, Cross, Love, Witherspoon, Richardson, Freeman (Raad 75), Akrofi (Ngandu 90)

Basildon United: Wheatley, Mead, Worrell, Kendall, Turpin, Phillips, Nyanja (Aromolaran 62), Barton, Moses, Spooner, Price-Placid (Adlington 75)