THE FA Cup takes centre stage for two borough non-League sides this weekend.

Tilbury will be at home today (Saturday, 17 August) in the preliminary round when they host Stanway Rovers from the Essex Senior league.

Rovers sit in mid-table after their first three league matches, losing 4-1 at Romford in the season-opener and then returning to Mayesbrook Park three days later to draw 1-1 against Barking.

Last weekend they got a first league win, beating Stansted 2-0 at home.

In between, Rovers pulled off an FA Cup extra-preliminary round upset over two matches, drawing 0-0 home to Isthmian North Maldon & Tiptree but winning the away replay 2-1.

So Tilbury, who lost their league opener 1-0 against Ipswich Wanderers last weekend, will be wary of a cup banana-skin, though they made no mistake in their extra-prelimiary round tie against lower opposition, brushing Buckhurst Hill aside.

Also at Chadfields, tomorrow at 3pm, Grays Athletic will play host to fellow Essex side and Isthmian North rivals Witham Town in another preliminary round tie.

Both sides will go into the match in optimistic mood. Though Grays were disappointed to concede a late goal and only draw their opening league match at Mildenhall last weekend, it was a solid and encouraging performance and came on the back of an emphatic FA Cup extra-preliminary round win against Hullbridge Sports.

Witham Town made the best possible start to their league campaign on Saturday with a convincing 3-0 win at Brightlingsea and also enjoyed an extra preliminary round home success, beating Hertford Town rally 2-1 at the Simarco Stadium.

Cup action in the Alan Turvey Isthmian League Cup sponsored by Velocity, will also be coming up soon for both Grays and Tilbury. The draw for round two of the competition, which has to be played by 18 September, sees Tilbury at Haringey Borough and Grays go to Walthamstow.

In the Vanarama National League South today, Aveley will be hoping to get their first win of the competitive season.

Last Saturday Danny Scopes' side were edged out 1-0 at Welling, and lost in the Essex Thameside Trophy to Basildon United on Monday.

Today brings Tonbridge Angels to Parkside (3pm).

Millers won the corresponding fixture 2-1 last year but Angels will arrive on a high, having won their season-opener with a 3-2 home win against Weymouth last weekend.

In The Essex and Suffolk Border League, East Thurrock Community FC play their first competitive home match at the Wyldecrest Sports Country Club on Herd Lane, Corringham (3pm) when Earls Colne will be the visitors. Last weekend Rocks lost their opening encounter, going down 2-1 at Alresford Colne Rangers.

ETC FC are also collecting for Thurrock Foodbank at today's match and a food bin will be by the entrance of the club.