AVELEY will be looking to build on last week's triumph against then Isthmian Premier leaders Hornchurch with a home league success against struggling Bowers and Pitsea today (Saturday, 4 February).

January was a good month for the Millers, with just two defeats in seven outings and they will hope to start February with a win that could put them top dependant on results elsewhere, though leaders Bishops Stortford ought to maintain their position with a home match against second-from bottom Corinthian Casuals.

Millers will go into the game without midfielder Ben Allen, who has joined fellow Isthmian Premier Haringay Borough, after making 12 apperances in all competitions since moving to Parkside in mid November.

He hasn't featured in the Aveley squad since scoring in the 2-1 Velocity Cup quarter-final win against Leatherhead on 16 January.

While Millers entertain Bowers, Grays - who groundshare at Parkside - go in the opposite dirction and travel to Bowers' Len Salmon Stadium where Hashtag United are currently based.

Hashtag are reported to be looking to get a new ground of their own in the near future - a quest shared by Grays who have also just announced they will be moving to Tilbury for the next two seasons.

The Tags, formed out of football fan Spencer Owen's vision six years ago to create an internet-based club, have grown in stature and progressed through the ranks quickly - and number a season at Tilbury's Chadfields ground in their brief history.

Managed by Jay Devereux Hashtag are enjoying an impressive campaign in their second season at Step Four and at the halfway point are the closest challengers to leaders AFC Sudbury. The two clubs are running away from the rest - Sudbury have 62 points and Tags 58 - while third-placed Lowestoft are 13 points away from the top two.

Grays sit fifth with 44 points and will go into today's clash more upbeat than the scoreline in their last clash might suggest.

They were beaten 2-0 at home by Sudbury but gave a good account of themselves, the visitors only taking the lead late in a competitive match and adding a second deep into added time.

Tenth-placed East Thurrock United will be looking to end a run of results that has seen them lose four league matchs on the run - compounded with a midweek Essex Senior Cup exist at Witham.

However, of those four league defeats, three were against Sudbury, Hashtag and Grays and the fourth was at resurgent Maldon in a highly entertaining and close 3-2 outcome.

Today the Rocks play host to bottom-of-the-table Coggeshall Town, who have just one league victory to their name all season and have yet to win away.

It is a great opportunity for the Rocks to blow away the January blues and get February off to a good start and possibility emulate their earlier season run of success that saw them surge to the edge of the play-off zone.

Tilbury have picked up four points from three matches under new boss Scott Dash, their last outing being a 1-0 midweek win at Great Wakering.

Today the Dockers will face Dash's toughest test to date - a trip to sixth-placed Stowmarket.