A BUMPER bank holiday crowd is expected at Rookery Hill in Corringham today when East Thurrock United play host to Grays Athletic in a derby that pitches seventh against eighth.

A win for the Rocks might edge them into to play-off zone but that would depend on results elsewhere. A win would be a sufficient start to the new year for Rocks fans though, who have seen their side make a remarkable climb from a shocking start to the season.

Grays made a great start had from much of the first half of the season featured in the play-off zone but a recent drop-off in form has seen them slip down a few places.

However, they go into the derby - which starts at 1pm - on the back of two wins, the last an emphatic 7-1 drubbing of Witham so it promises to be an interesting encounter.

Tilbury fans will be hoping 2023 serves up better results than the bulk of 2022 had to offer.

John Coventry's side have had a difficult campaign to date, often briefly promising improvement, then slipping backwards.

The Christmas derby 2-1 home defeat to East Thurrock will have been a blow and Coventry will be hoping his charges have to character to put it behind them and produce a result at Brentwood Town today. Brentwood have been  of the division's big spenders – who have so far failed to live up to expectations.  

The latest arrival at the Arena is Billericay Town forward Chris Dickson who has made a loan move to Brentwood for a month and Dockers' tough task will be to nullify the much-travelled and experienced striker who has an established pedigree at a higher level.

In the Isthmian Premier promotion-chasing Aveley play host to Canvey Island, the team who also went up from from the North division last season, in a top eight clash at Parkside.

Aveley recovered from an short indifferent patch of form to record a 3-1 win at Corinthian casuals over the Christmas holiday and will be looking to rubber-stamp their promotion credentials in today's Essex derby.

The Tilbury and Aveley matches start at 3pm.