AVELEY will face National League side, Southend United in their final pre-season friendly this afternoon (Saturday, 1 August).

Millers head to Roots Hall kicking -off in the Isthmian Premier Division next weekend against Eastbourne Borough at Parkside.

This fixture marks Aveley Football Club's 100 Year Anniversary and Southend United's 120 Year Anniversary. A range of initiatives and activities will take place around the fixture as both clubs mark the occasion. Kick-off is 3pm.

Millers go into the match on the back of a midweek friendly win at Canvey Island on Tuesday (28 July).

Canvey took the lead after six minutes thanks to a long-range strike but Max Booth put Millers level just after the half hour.

A second goal for the visitors came three minutes later through Prosper Keto.

Chris Harris extended the lead on 56 minutes when he headed past former Miller David Hughes and an unnamed Millers trialist got the final goal in a 4-1 win 20 minutes from the end.

Millers boss Brett Munyard reflected on the match at the end:-

Also in action this afternoon will be East Thurrock Community FC, who play host to Stanstead at Rookery Hill (3pm) hoping for a third successive win.

Rocks have made a dream start in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties South, winning away at FC Barasi on the opening day and at home last Tuesday when they beat Basildon Town.

Grays Athletic's final pre-season match at Barnet-based Southern League Division One Central Hadley last night ended in a 3-1 defeat.

Blues will next be in action in the FA Cup extra preliminary round when they travel to play Hilltop FC, on Friday, 7 August.

The winners will play Northwood or Hutton away in the preliminary round.

Hilltop, who are in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League, groundshare at Hendon's Silver Jubilee Park Stadium. Hilltop, a community team originally founded by London-based members of the Somalian community, have already started their league campaign, losing their opening home Premier Division North fixture with Wokingham Town 2-1 last night.

Tilbury (who enjoyed a 5-4 friendly win at Aveley last night), will be at home in the same round when they entertain Wormley Rovers on Saturday, 8 August. Winners will be away to Biggleswade Town in the next round.

Last night Tilbury made the short trip to Parkside to play a young Aveley side and came out tops in a nine-goal thriller.

Dockers' winner came in the 87th minute from Ben Allen latched onto a ball from Samir Ali to score. In a see-saw match that ended 4-5, Tilbury's other scorers were Freddy Townsend (9), Jon Nzengo (55), Allen (61) and Tyler Forbes (69). Toby Aromolan got two for Millers.

Dockers win came in the wake of a disappointing result on Tuesday when they were beaten in a friendly when they hosted Soul Tower Hamlets at Chadfields.

The visitors opened the scoring on 17 minutes and though Dockers had several good chances and saw the ball cleared off the line a couple of times, they were unable to equalise.

The coming weeks will see more cup action for local sides.

In the FA Trophy Tilbury will be home to Southern League Division One Central Hertford Town in the First Qualifying Round on Saturday, 29 August. In the same round Grays travel to Thames neighbours Canvey Island.

East Thurrock Community FC will break new ground when they play in the FA Vase for the first time on Saturday, 15 August, when they will be at home to Letchworth Garden City Eagles of the Spartan South Midlands Football League in the First Qualifying Round. The winners will be away to Langford or Haverhill Rovers.