IN a season where they have already met and beaten many challenges head on, Aveley will be facing another stern test in the FA Cup today (Saturday, 16 September).

Millers travel to take on Vanarama National North side King's Lynn Town and are looking to create more history this weekend as they attempt to get past the Second Qualifying Round for only the fifth time since 1992.

Both sides at Step Two in the non-League pyramid thanks to Aveley's remarkable rise over the past two season and if you look at current league placing in their respective tables, Aveley might be classed as narrow favourites.

They are fourth in the South division and recently topped the table, while Kings Lynn are 21st in theirs, having won just once in nine matches.

But taking on the Linnets at 'The Walks' is still a huge challenge. King's Lynn were defeated in the National North play-offs last season as they sought an immediate return to the top flight on non-League.

And they have a great recent record in the FA Cup. In 2021 they beat Port Vale 1–0 at Vale Park in the first round, before losing 6–1 at Portsmouth in the second.

Another FA Cup first round appearance in 2021–22 ended in a 1–0 home defeat by Walsall and in 2022–23 they reached the first round again, winning 1–0 at Doncaster Rovers to progress to the second round where they lost 3–0 to Stevenage.

The Millers will have Jalen Jones back from International duty and full back Jason Ring back from his one match suspension to boost Aveley's defence.

King's Lynn Town have the likes of Josh Coulson in defence, who, in his career has won the FA Trophy and National League Play-offs with Cambridge United in the 2013/14 season, making over 270 appearances for the Us, he then went on to make 117 appearances for Leyton Orient, helping Orient win the National League Title under Justin Edinburgh in 2019.

In their attacking line-up The Linnets have Jordan Ponticelli who has played for Coventry City, Macclesfield Town, Tranmere Rovers and Wrexham before moving to Town.

While Millers go to Norfolk, Suffolk comes to the borough in the shape of Bury Town who will face Grays Athletic in the Isthmian North at the EMR Stadium in Tilbury.

Grays boss Mark Stimson will be keen to kick-start his side's season.

They sit second from bottom with just one point from three matches and played their Under 23 side in the Velocity Cup in midweek (losing 5-0), saving the first team for today's clash.

Town have also had a mixed start to the campaign but ended a three match winless run at Biggleswade Town in the FA Trophy last weekend.

Tilbury take to the road in the Essex Senior League Premier and visit Takeley.

Dockers have risen up the table after a slow start and will be hoping to go better than they did on Wednesday, when they were held to a fractious draw away to White Ensign.

There were slight hopes last week that East Thurrock United might be able to find a way through the issues that forced its owners to take the club into administration, and fulfil a fixture today but despite best efforts of a number of parties no way forward could be found.

The club remains in administration and is set to withdraw officially from the Isthmian League. Today's match at New Salamis is described as 'postponed' following Rocks forfeiting Velocity Cup and FA Trophy ties but it seems only a matter of time before the football authorities confirm the official demise of the Rocks.