FOLLOWERS of local non-League clubs may have a nervous afternoon today (Saturday, 11 April) with three teams involved in vital promotion and relegation matches.

Nerves may be most frayed at Chadfields where Grays Athletic will play host to Thames neighbours Concord Rovers and they will be desperate for three points to ease fears of relegation from the Isthmian North.

With three matches left the Blues sit just a point and two places off the drop zone and today's home clash gives them an opportunity to put distance between Lowestoft Town ahead of a meeting between the two sides, also at Chadfields next weekend, which will also be Grays' annual community fun day.

Concord travel to the EMR Stadium in a secure mid-table position, with little to play for but local pride.

The teams have already met twice this season, both at Rangers' Aspect Arena. On each occasion the score was 3-1, but with one win each. In the league game, on 13 September, Blues took the lead on 15 minutes through Oscar Shelvey, before Concord turned the game around with a brace from Bobby Kelman. Before half time, Sid Walker was penalised and Kelman dispatched the resultant spot kick. After half time, a slip from Lewis Clark allowed Kelman in for the second. Blues never looked likely to equalise and Khris Oti wrapped up the win in injury time.

Just 10 days later Grays were back on Canvey Island for a first round League Cup tie. The Beachboys made the perfect start with Harrison Day scoring very early, but this time it was the Blues who made a successful comeback, with goals from Lewis Clark, Joe Paxman and Jayden Silcott-Brown.

A similar outcome will be much appreciated by home fans today.

Tilbury supporters will have a stress-free day with a trip to the east coast where they play sixth-placed Gorleston

Dockers, having flirted with the lower regions up to the halfway point of the season, have been reshaped and remoulded by new managers George Christou and Jack Toghli and sit ninth in the table with the managerial duo no doubt contemplating next season already.

In the Isthmian Premier, Aveley travel to 11^th placed St Albans City, knowing a win could secure their home play-off semi-final should fourth-placed Brentwood not pick up a win at Carshalton, and a defeat for third-placed Billericay at Ramsgate would almost certainly seal second spot for the Millers and a home game in the play-off final should they make it through.

Last time at Clarence Park Millers were defeated 3-0 in a match which all-but sealed their relegation from the National South last season, but it wasn't enough for St Albans to stave off relegation either.

Both teams have bounced back with St Albans sitting mid-table with eyes on next season to push for promotion back to the National South while Aveley's run of form under new boys Brett Munyard has delighted their supports who were perhaps expecting a season of stability – rtahr than the promise of an immediate return to Step Two.

In the Essex and Suffolk Border league Premier Division, the title chase is set to go down to the wire.

In the thick of the battle at East Thurrock Community FC who sit second in the table, a point behind Thorpe Athletic  and both sides have four matches left. Coming up on the pair's tails are Great Benlty who have five to play and they are three points behind Thorpe Athletic.

Of the three sides, Rocks have the worst goal difference so they will be seeking maximum points from today's trip to 12^th placed Colchester-based Gas Recreation. Thorpe Athletic are home to Dedham Old Boys, while Great Bentley travel to Earls Colne.