It was a first win of this pre-season campaign in arguably the Fleet’s toughest match yet as Josh Wright’s side saw off Isthmian Premier runners-up Aveley in a 4-1 victory.

The boss flipped the starting XI from Saturday’s behind-closed-doors practice match at Wycombe Wanderers and it was a dominant display from the visitors.

The first chance came before the 10-minute mark when a tidy ball from Olly Box was met by Dom Samuel but he was denied by a good stop from the Aveley keeper. Charlie Seaman once again proved a threat with set pieces; he tried his luck with a shot from about 25 yards out from his first free-kick which forced another save.

With 18 minutes on the clock, the Fleet found an opener. Lennon Peake swung in a free-kick from the right towards Ronny Nelson but it took a touch off an Aveley player and looped into the back of the net.

Fleet continued to control the match with Will Buse having only one real save of note to make and on the half-hour, Toby Edser’s goalbound shot was blocked. Minutes later, a darting run down the middle by Jake Vokins saw an effort deflected out for a corner.

Lennon Peake linked up with Samuel nicely and once again, it was an important intervention by the hosts to force that one wide.

A second goal did arrive for the Fleet right before the break. Daniel Ogunleye placed a neat ball to Samuel who then unselfishly opted to play the ball across the area, with the keeper stranded. Olly Box arrived at the perfect time to slot the ball home into an empty net for 2-0.

Two soon became three after the break. An excellent tackle by Gene Kennedy released Ogunleye was victim of a crunching tackle. Standard practice from Seaman saw him once again convert from the free-kick with a perfectly executed effort that sailed over the goalkeeper and in.

Samuel had a couple of chances to register on the scoresheet, especially when he got on the end of Kennedy’s pass and rounded the goalkeeper but the Aveley defence regained possession before he could convert. Seaman had another free-kick just clear the crossbar while Box, like Ogunleye, was feeling the heat from several hard tackles from an Aveley back line that included former Fleet midfielder Matt Johnson.

The hour mark saw a complete swap of line-ups and Ben Chapman’s useful run into the box needed a convincing shot but he ran out of room. Finlay Barnes was a threat down the right flank and he tried to pick his spot with a floated shot that drifted just past the upright. He then thought he had set up Aramide Oteh who was located at the near post to back-heel the ball narrowly past the post

Barnes had more luck when he hit a superb strike from the edge of the box to add Fleet’s fourth, although Aveley immediately pulled one back when Toby Aromolaran latched on to a ball down the middle ahead of Matt Hall.

EUFC: Buse, Vokins, Gbadebo, Nelson, Edser, Kennedy, Seaman, Peake, Box, Ogunleye, Samuel.
EUFC (from 60 mins): Buse, Passley, Manktelow, Tizzard, Hessenthaler, Vennings, Chapman, Walker, Barnes, Oteh, Appiah.
Photos: ©EUFC/Ed Miller