For the third game in succession the Robins failed to score and, after a reasonably even first half, things fell away badly after the break.

On a wet afternoon at Colston Avenue the performance of the team was as subdued as the support from the fans and it was a demoralised and dejected side that trooped off after a home defeat against an Aveley team that did the simple things well, worked hard when and where it mattered, and could easily have won by a bigger margin.

Frankie Vines will certainly have a busy week ahead as he attempts to lift the spirits of this team for next Saturday’s big Trophy match against Northwood.

There was plenty of ebb and flow in the early exchanges. A long pass by Rob Watkins picked out Jones Awuah at the far side of the goal area, but his attempted volley lacked the power to trouble Ollie Sanders who made an easy catch.

Junior Dadson looked dangerous on the Aveley left flank and a smart turn of pace and strength on the heavy pitch gave him the chance to break away before knocking in a low cross-shot that flew dangerously across the face of the Robins goal and inches in front of Mitch Hahn coming in at the far post.

Not to be outdone Stefan Cox was looking lively on the Robins left and a cross picked out David Ray, but the Carshalton captain’s header lacked power.

Not long after Cox went on a long, solo run but his low right foot shot was on target but easily fielded by Sanders.

Aveley were in no mood to be overwhelmed as they were in the recent Trophy encounter between the two sides, however, and they continued to probe an uncertain home defence.

Their pressure told on 32 minutes when full back Sam Holloway crossed from the left and Ryan Edgar easily lost his marker to head past Hamann to put Aveley ahead.

Joe Dolan was immediately substituted by Justyn Roberts with what looked to be a possible recurrence of his knee injury, but Aveley tried to turn the screw and Dadson drove in a cross that cleared the back post. Matt Johnson was presented with a shooting chance from another Dadson cross, but his close range effort was blocked at the expense of a corner.

Late in the half the Robins hit back and Karl Murray found Richard Jolly in the area, but the striker’s looping header was cleared off the line.

The resulting corner taken by Beaney was a good one, but Watkins headed narrowly over.

Richard Jolly took the spotlight early in the second half when he latched on to a pass from Beaney and created the space for a curling shot that passed just over, but the lights were dimmed for the Carshalton danger man ten minutes into the half when a questionable penalty was awarded for Ketchell’s attempt to hold off Jolly as he looked set to shoot.

With the current penalty taker, Craig Faulconbridge, sitting on the bench, Jolly was urged to take the kick, but his shot was weak and straight at keeper Sanders who had no trouble saving.

Martin Tuohy is the man who usually gives the cutting edge to Aveley’s best moves and he should have increased the lead when he outpaced the pedestrian Robins defence on 67 minutes, but Hamann made a good save and David Ray got back to make a clearance off the line.

The reprieve turned out to be short-lived, however, and Tuohy made rapid amends for his miss when he got a touch on the resulting corner to put Aveley firmly in the driving seat.

Tuohy and Hahn both missed chances to further increase the lead, but Aveley scored a deserved third goal with eleven minutes left with a shot by Hahn that squirmed embarrassingly through the legs of goalkeeper Hamann.

It could have been four, but Matt Johnson’s snap shot flew just wide of the post. By this time, however, Carshalton were already a well-beaten side and must be wondering where their next stroke of good luck and inspiration might come from.

Robins team; Nick Hamann, David Ray, Rob Watkins, Joe Dolan (Justyn Roberts), David Woozley, Kenny Beaney, Stefan Cox, Karl Murray, Jones Awuah, Richard Jolly, Rashid Kamara (Craig Faulconbridge) Subs not used: Josh Webb, Louis Bell