AFTER last weekend's early evening draw at Ramsgate, Aveley return to 3pm afternoon normality today (Saturday, 7 March) when they play host to Whitehawk in the Isthmian Premier.

The visitors sit comfortably in mid-table and realistically have just pride to play for, though they may be spurred on to extract revenge for a home defeat at the hands of Millers in November, when Ollie Peters' converted penalty was the only goal of the match.

At that point in the season Aveley were just embarking on the remarkable run of results that has lifted them from the lower echelons to second spot in the table.

Overhauling runaway leaders Folkestone may be a task too far for Brett Munyard's side, who will have four home matches to play and four on the road after today, but they will be looking to consolidate a play-off spot - and home advantage as the season ticks towards its conclusion. 

A lack of consistency means Grays Athletic are still looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone in the Isthmian North, and they will hope to repeat last weekend's impressive performance against Bowers, rather than the midweek defeat at Witham, when they travel to mid-table Newmarket.

After a tough inaugural season at Step Four last season, things have improved significantly for Newmarket in this campaign.

A strong start to the season saw them in the play off picture after 14 games. Following a difficult run of results, things have picked up again in the last few weeks with the highlight being an excellent 3-0 win at Stanway Rovers.

Grays will be hoping to gain some revenge for the reverse fixture played at the EMR in November which ended in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for the Jockeys. That result means the head-to-head record between the sides stands as P4 W2 L2 (alongside the three league games is Grays' first ever meeting with Newmarket in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup back in October 1992, won by Newmarket 1-0).

While a late run for the play-offs appears beyond Tilbury, not least because they have played more matches than most around them, Dockers will want to continue the improvement shown under managers George Christou and Jack Toghli who have reshaped the squad at Chadfields and overseen a rise up the table since taking over in October.

Today ninth-placed Dockers play host to Cambridge City, who are 12th. City enjoyed a 3-0 win on their own patch in November as Christou and Toghli were bedding in. The match will be a good measure of how much progression there has been under their leadership, though Dockers will have to go some to better Tuesday's impressive win at Felixstowe.  

After finally getting a Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division match and win under their belts last weekend, East Thurrock Community FC are again without a first team fixture today.