AVELEY got a boost ahead of today's (Saturday, 31 October) Thames derby with neighbours Dartford at Parkside with the return of attacking midfielder Alejandro Machado from National South side Folkestone Invicta.

Machado featured ten times for Aveley at the beginning of last season, and was an exciting creative bright spark in our midfield. He then moved on to Brentwood Town, helping them achieve a play-off final with six goals in 34 games.

His performances brought a move to last season's Isthmian Premier League champions Folkestone Invicta, and has made 15 appearances, scoring on two occasions in the National South for them.

Machado's a Miller again.

The Spanish born midfielder started his career in the Real Madrid youth academy, and spent over six years with the La Liga side before moving to England. Alejandro played for Isthmian South central side South Park, Essex Senior League side Woodford Town where he scored 11 goals in 28 appearances before joining Northern Premier League side Guiseley AFC in 2023.

The left footed midfielder then moved back down south and played for Basildon United at the start of the 2023/24 season, before joining Grays Athletic in December 2023, going on to make 15 appearances for the remainder of the season. Machado then re-signed for Grays for the entirety of the 2024/25 season, and made 37 appearances, scoring 14 goals and assisting a further four from midfield and finishing as the club's top goalscorer.

However, Millers have lost a player this week, with Jayden Gipson joining the list of Aveley players who have joined former boss Brett Munyard at Brentwood Town.

Gipson joined Aveley in the summer of 2025. He made 41 appearances last season as the Millers reached the play-off semi-finals, scoring five goals, and has played ten times in the League this season, scoring once.

Aveley go into today's Isthmian Premier fixture at Parkside just two points above the drop zone, while the Darts are flying high in fifth place. Dartford also have a new face, defender George Brooke, who has most recently been with Margate.

In the Isthmian North Grays Athletic play host to AFC Sudbury at Chadfields. Both clubs have struggled this season and are in the lower reaches of the division, with the Suffolk visitors two places above the Blues in sixteenth.

Grays have improved since the departure of manager Mitch Hahn a couple of weeks ago and under the stewardship of Lewis Clark Blues fans have seen back-to-back league wins, including last weekend's performance at Lowestoft which resulted in a 6-0 win.

Today's match will be a celebration of Halloween and the crowd are invited to dress up appropriately.

Tilbury have a trip to Newmarket Town's Tristel Global Stadium. The hosts are currently in second place and go into the game on the back of an unbeaten 13 match run in all competitions.

Dockers' form has been erratic throughout the season. Their last outing was a 3-2 midweek defeat at Fakenham, which lifted the home side off the bottom of the table. Before that they drew at home to Brightlingsea and the contrasting nature of their season was illustrated in the match before, a win over long time table-toppers Hashtag.

In the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties South Division third-placed East Thurrock Community FC travel to Southend Manor. Rocks sit third in the table and will be looking to bounce back from the 3-0 defeat by Lymore Gardens that ended a run of six successive wins.

The clubs last met earlier this month when Rocks won a dramatic match 2-1, but Manor – who are fourth from bottom - do have a win against East Thurrock this season, beating them 2-1 in the League Cup in August.