THE battle at the top of the Isthmian Premier is getting tighter and with four matches left any one of seven teams could mathematically take the title, whil four are very much in realistic contention.

And that includes the season's surprise package Aveley, who have rarely been out of the play-off zone all season and are just two points behind leaders Bishops Stortford - who they play at Parkside next Saturday!

Yesterday's 2-1 win at Haringey Borough means the Millers need just two more points to secure their play-off spot but the title still remains very much in their grasp on their first season back at this level.

Aveley got off to a great start at Haringey with a goal from Harry Gibbs after three minutes and there were just five minutes left when Oli Coker grabbed their second.

Borough did manage a penalty won and converted by Ben Allen with three minutes left but Millers held out for a 2-1 win.

Gibbs' close range goal was his 22nd for the club on his 200th appearance while Coker's was piece of quick-thinking after Millers got an indirect free-kick in the box!

See both goals above thanks to the Millers' Twitter feed!

While there is delight and optimism at Avelely, across the borough at Tilbury's Chadfields ground there was a hugely disappointing defeat for the relegation-threatened Dockers - despite the fact they played half the vital match against Isthmian North fellow drop zone battlers Great Wakering Rovers with ten men.

Rubbing salt into the wound, David Knight - who spent several months in a Dockers shirt earlier in the season - got a hat-trick for the visitors.

Neutrals may have enjoyed the seven goal clash which ebbed and flowed but for Dockers' supporters it was not a great watch and the likelihood is they will be going into an end-of season relegation/play-off decider against a Step Five side. And they could even be automatically relegated.

Tom Salter started the scoring, with a goal for Tilbury just before the half hour but it was cancelled out by Knight's first on 38 minutes.

That's how it stayed at the break, before which Rovers Ugonna Emenike was sent off.

With a man advantage it looked as if Tilbury were in the driving seat when Harry Donovan restored the lead on 51 minutes but the game turned as Knight scored twice on 63 and 69 minutes, the first from the spot, and then Freddie Moriarty netted a fourth for Rovers with ten minutes to go.

Luke Wilson raised hopes of a Tilbury comeback with seven to go but it wasn't to be.

The defeat leaves Dockers third from bottom, four points above Coggeshall and Hullbridge who have one and two matches in hand respectiveley.

Witham, who are just above the drop zone and play at New Salmis today (Sunday, 2 April), went into that match eight points ahead of Tilbury and they are Tilbury's next opponents and host next Saturday's match at their Simarco Stadium.

Grays Athletic's hopes of making a play-off place took a dip in another high-scoring clash.

They drew 3-3 at Parkside with Basildon United where another Ben Allen got on the scoresheet and denied Blues a win with a last minute goal.

Ronnie Winn gave Grays a good start with a 14th minute opener, cancelled out by Allen's first of the match on 39 minutes and Scott Pethers gave the visitors the lead right on half time.

A brace from Roman Campbell on 71 and 75 minutes put Grays back in front - only for Allen to dash hopes of three points in the closing moments.

East Thurrock United's match at Felixstowe was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.