NON-LEAGUE: Football fans in the borough will be praying for an improvement in the weather with a huge local derby on the horizon.

Monday night sees Aveley host Grays Athletic at Millfield in what should be a scintillating borough derby in the Ryman League Division One North.

Both sides are in fantastic form but Blues, whose game against Harlow was postponed on Monday, now have an extended period of rest before the clash. Meanwhile, Aveley have three games in five days, all at Millfield.

As of Tuesday night, Blues sit second in the league with Aveley fifth and five points behind their rivals.

Grays still have a game in hand over league leaders Maldon. Millers, unbeaten in 2013, have won their last four league games, scoring 15 in the process.

Grays have won five of their last six in all competitions, conceding just two goals and scoring 14.

“I’ve got one eye on the game because it’s a big fixture,” Millers boss Justin Gardner told the Gazette. “Grays are a big club and it’s a local derby. We’re looking forward to it. “They’re a club that should be playing at a higher level, but we take each game as it comes.

“I’ll play my best team against Cheshunt and Witham and it’s about putting in decent performances against them first and foremost.”

Blues boss Hakan Heyrettin, whose side will train three times before the game and take part in a supporters’ day on Saturday, said: “I’m looking forward to it. They are in great form and have a young, enthusiastic manager.

“You can only admire them for picking up the points they have done. But we’ll go there and do a professional job. All we can do is take each game on its merits.

“They’ve done fantastically and have a lot of pace up front but we’ll have to deal with it.”