AVELEY retained top spot in the Isthmian North thanks to a 2-0 win at fellow promotion-chasing Hashtag United on Saturday, while Grays Athletic also managed a victory that elevates them back into the play-off zone.

The Millers made the short trip to the Len Salmon Stadium in Pitsea where a crowd of 422 included a large number of travelling fans.

They were delighted in the 19th minute when Alex Akrofi broke away and passed the ball into the path of George Sykes who made no mistake for the opener.

And the points were wrapped up five minutes into the second half with yet another memorable goal from Jon Benton who fire in from long range.

Grays entertained fourth-placed Dereham at Parkside and made up ground to go fifth themselves with a 3-0 win.

They made the best possible start when Geoffrey Okonkwo opened the scoring after just three minutes but had to wait 73 minutes for a second, which came from Anointed Chukwu.

The wait for the third was much shorter, Chukwu scoring his second two minutes from the end.

Tilbury's home clash with Bury Town was called off after a late morning inspection because of a waterlogged pitch, which was the same outcome of an earlier inspection that put paid to East Thurrock United's Premier Division clash with leaders Worthing.