AFTER the delight of a cup final win on Wednesday, there's another big match at Parkside for Aveley today (Saturday, 8 April).

Millers go into the Isthmian Premier clash against leaders Bishops Stortford buoyed by the 3-0 win against Potters Bar and know that a win, dependent on results elsewhere, could even see them top the table themselves this evening.

It's incredibly close at the top, with seven team mathematically in with a chance of the title, though realistically, the main contenders are today's two protagonists, Hornchurch and Canvey Island. Two points separate the top four.

Hornchurch will be hoping to put the travesty of an awful refereeing blunder at Horsham last week behind them and regain top spot with a derby win at home to Billericay Town.

The controversy last weekend saw a Sam Higgins goal disallowed for offside after he intercepted a back pass. It would have given the Urchins a 3-1 lead with less than ten minutes to go but in the furoré that followed manager Mark Stimson and assistant Tony Gay were sent off, Hornchurch lost their heads and conceded two late goals to lose 3-2.

Canvey go to relegation-threatened Kingstonian.

As well as the cup success, Millers go into today's clash having taken 26 points from an undefeated run of ten matches,

Stortford have two defeats from their last ten but have bounced back to win their last three matches without conceding a goal.

It's all set up to be a nail-biting encounter.

In the North Division Grays will be hoping to stay in the race for a play-off place with a win at struggling Great Wakering Rovers today.

The Blues are seventh, two points behind fifth-placed Felixstowe and with just four matches left it is imperative they get three points.

That match will be eyed keenly by supporters of relegation-threatened Tilbury who sit just a place off the bottom in one of two automatic relegation spots.

Rovers are a point above them.

The first priority for Tilbury though is to get a win at Witham Town. The hosts are 16th, seven points clear of the relegation play-off places and anything but a win for Dockers edges them closer to a play-off against a Step Five side.

There no pressure on East Thurrock who play host to New Salamis, who similarly are just playing for pride after a successful first season at this level.

This will be the second ever meeting between the two clubs, in the previous fixture in December last year Rocks ran out 2-1 winners thanks to late goals from Sam Carter and Brian Moses.

It will be a vastly different side that turns out for the Rocks today as recently appointed manager Steve Butterworth plans for next season.

He has brought in a host of new players, many of whom are playing to impress and stay with Rocks in the division next season.

A club with Greek Cypriot roots, New Salamis started out as a Sunday league side, winning the prestigious FA Sunday Cup in 2016. They only joined the Spartan South Midlands League in 2019, and after two rapid promotions made it into the Isthmian North this season.

They've definitely raised a fair few eyebrows with a string of impressive results in their first season at step four, which include standout wins over Lowestoft and Felixstowe, and currently sit in eighth place, two places and three points ahead of the Rocks.