AVELEY remain at the top of the Isthmian North after a late goal gave them a single goal victory in a hard fought match at Heybridge Swifts on Saturday.

Chances were few and far between in a match that was close, though Millers were always the team most likely to break the deadlock, with George Sykes getting the ball in the net as early as the ninth minute, but it was ruled out for offside.

Chances came and went for both sides before the decisive moment on 77 minutes when Sykes was on hand to head home.

Aveley almost doubled their lead three minutes later when sub Marlon Agyaka struck the woodwork but one goal was to prove enough.

Millers top the table on goal difference from Stowmarket, who put Tilbury to the sword with a 4-1 win at Chadfields.

Stowmarket led from the 21st minute when George Bugg scored but the Dockers were level on 55 minutes through Sam Jeremiah.

However a late flurry of goals, starting with the visitor's 76th minute converted penalty by Josh Mayhew and followed a minute later by another strike from Willie Clemons put the visitors in the driving seat a second penalty from Mayhew six minutes from time compounded Tilbury's disappointment.

The Dockers are now five matches without a win and have slipped to the fringes of the relegation battle.

They have a chance for some relief in the Essex Senior Cup on Tueday (18 January) when they go to Brentwood in the fourth round. Aveley are also in midweek Senior Cup action, they entertain Barking tomorrow (Monday, 17 January).

Grays have slipped out of the Isthmian North play-off zone after managing only a 1-1 home draw with Coggeshall Town on Saturday.

Both goals came in the second half, Geofrey Okonkwo's 51st minute effort cancelling our Ibrahim Kehinda's 49th minute goal in a match that will not live long in the memory.

East Thurrock didn't have a league match at the weekend but their position in the Isthmian Premier relegation dogfight was marginally improved by defeats for the teams around them.

None of the nine nine teams in the bottom 11 who played managed a win, with most losing.

Rocks are another borough side in Essex Senior Cup action, entertaining Coggeshall at Rookery Hill on Tuesday.