THE weekend brings testing matches for the borough's three senior non-League clubs who will all be hoping to improve on recent fortune.

Aveley will want to bounce back from Monday evening's 5-2 home defeat by Folkestone on Saturday (20 September) when they welcome Dartford for a Thames derby.

Dartford haven't played since 6 September when they drew 2-2 at home to Canvey Island, fighting  back from 2-0 down and they sit just one place above the drop zone after losses on the road to Dulwich Hamlet and St Albans, draws with Billericay and Ramsgate as well as Canvey and have just one win, albeit an emphatic one, coming against Charshalton Athletic who they beat 4-1 at home.

That's in marked contrast to their form last season when they reached the play-off final, only to lose to Dover Athletic.

Grays Athletic and Tilbury will be chasing cash and glory in the Isusu FA Trophy but both look to have challenging tasks.

Grays who have just one win to their name in the Isthmian North, will play host to Felixstowe and Walton United - who currently top the table.

And the Seasiders already have a 3-0 league win under their belt against Grays from their trip to Chadfields on Saturday, 30 August.

Grays have just two wins from their last nine matches - but both did come in the Trophy, against Brantham Athletic and Milton Keynes Irish. In midweek they got a point from a dour draw away to Walthamstow.

Tilbury make the trip to Welwyn Garden City who sit second in the Southern League Division One Central, behind leaders Biggleswade who beat them 2-0 in August. Since then, City have played just twice, winning matches on the road against Takeley in the Trophy and Rayners Lane in the league.

Dockers' own form is not great, with just one Isthmian North win to their name so far and they sit 16th. In midweek they were held at home in a goalless draw by Waltham Abbey, but there was merit in their performance against one of the division's early high-fliers.

Before that they won through to Saturday's match with a Trophy 3-0 win at London Lions.

In the Essex and Suffolk Border League Premier Division table toppers and unbeaten East Thurrock Community FC are at home to Gas Recreation (3pm).