THE unexpected, but predictable, happened at Parkside where title-chasing Aveley fluffed their lines against bottom club Brightlingsea Regent and in the end were grateful for a late goal that gave them a 1-1 draw.

The Millers were in fine form and looking for an eleventh win from 12 matches. After a goalless first half it was the visitors making the breakthrough, Bradley Russell temporarily silencing the home faithful, and it took until seven minutes from time for the Millers to find an equaliser, Garrett Kelly breaching the Regent rearguard.

Regent held out, blunting the Millers' title challenge and keeping their own survival hopes alive- if only just.

In the North division Grays were distinctly second best at Brentwood Town.

Town are on fine run, making it only one defeat in 11 with victory and damaged their visitors' play-off hopes at the same time.

It took until 15 minutes from time for the deadlock to be broken, Connor Hogan with the opener- and just before the end George Craddock made it two.

Athletic are down to seventh, the third of three clubs tied on 59 points.

A much-changed East Thurrock United side welcomed Heybridge Swifts to Rookery Hill. The Rocks have lost their previous three, and that run increased to four as Swifts scored the only goal of the game in the first half. Lee Noble was the man who got it.

Finally, second bottom Coggeshall Town welcomed the side two places and four points above them, Tilbury. The Seed Growers found themselves nine points from safety, and the gap was five points for the Dockers, so the match was critical for both sides. The Dockers went ahead early on, Thomas Saitek opening the scoring on twelve minutes, but the hosts levelled from the spot just before the break, Darnell Kithambo holding his nerve.

Full report on the Dockers' match by Mason Hutchinson can be found via this link.