IT'S almost entirely 'as you were' in the Isthmian Leagues for the borough's four sides this evening (Saturday, 22 January).

There were wins for Aveley and Grays Athletic to sustain their North Division promotion challenges. In the same division Tilbury came away from fellow strugglers Great Wakering Rovers with a draw and East Thurrock United suffered another heavy Premier Division defeat.

Aveley remain in second place after a single goal win against Brentwood but much of the drama at the top of the table was at the Frost Financial Stadium where leaders Canvey Island were two goals down to Barking with seven minutes left - but they turned it around to win 3-2 and keep Aveley off top spot.

The Millers' victory against Brentwood, in front of a bumper crowd of 477 at Parkside, came courtesy of George Sykes' 56th minute goal.

Defeat for Brentwood opened the door for Grays to step back into the promotion zone and they duly delivered with an emphatic 6-0 win at bottom club Romford.

James Smith put Grays on the way with a 14th minute opener and David Knight's 33rd minute penalty made it two at half time. Second half goals from Kai Brown (64), Smith (74) and a late brace in the last four minutes from Aron Gordon sealed the victory.

Tilbury travelled to Burroughs Park for a clash with Wakering and the match proved to be one of little quality and little goalmouth action.

The Dockers, particularly in the opening ten minutes, had the better of a goalless first half but Rovers improved immeasurably after the break and took the lead with a 73rd minute goal attributed to Darnell Mavanga-Kithambo, though it appeared to cannon in off a Tilbury head as they defended a set piece.

Whoever did put the ball over the line, it looked to be enough to win the game until the 90th minute when referee Oliver Morris-Sanders adjudged an innocuous handball in the box to be worthy of a penalty and Tilbury didn't look the gift horse in the mouth, as Chris Millar slotted home the spot kick to give, on balance, a fair outcome to the match.

East Thurrock's likely survival in the Isthmian Premier looks to be a long shot after another heavy defeat, this time at Bishops Stortford where the Rocks survived for 37 minutes without conceding but Mark Haines then broke the deadlock and Chris Harris added a second on the stroke of half time.

Jonathon Giles made it three on 50 minutes and through Ollie Miles netted for East Thurrock six minutes later, that was quickly wiped out by the final goal of the match, on the hour, from Anthony Church.