ALEX Stephenson says he is enjoying his football once again after helping Aveley turn around their season.

The defender, who finished last season at Billericay Town, joined the Millers in October and has been a regular in the backline.

Despite enduring a difficult start to life at Parkside, with the results failing to match the club’s early season play-off ambitions, Stephenson is playing a key role in Aveley’s current six match unbeaten run.

The Isthmian North outfit, who were looking over their shoulders at the relegation places only a month ago, are now on a six game unbeaten run and drew 2-2 at promotion hopefuls Dereham Town at the weekend.

And Stephenson, who scored on Saturday, says he is feeling settled at last.

“It is going well,” said the 21-year-old. “I have got my form back after a difficult start to the season. I am not back to my best yet, but I am looking to get back to my peak. I was doing well at Billericay and I want to get that form back.

“I started the season at Braintree and it wasn’t the best time for me. I didn’t have any sort of real pre-season with one team and I arrived at Aveley in October.

“It is hard not playing,” added Stephenson. “I was training with Braintree but not playing. I was doing bits to keep sharp and you need that and I feel I have got it back now.”

Millers manager James Webster has made wholesale changes to his team throughout the season, having arrived at the start of October.

But he now seems to have found a settled side, having also signed former East Thurrock United attacker Tom Richardson last week.

And Stephenson says he is excited at the team’s prospects heading into the closing weeks of term.

“We are feeling good,” said Stephenson. “Since I joined, the whole squad has changed and I feel we are clicking now.

“The atmosphere has changed and there may only be three or four players still here from the team I joined four months ago.

“Saturday’s result proves the change in us. After the game we said that we were the team that was conceding the late goals. Now we are doing that to other teams.

“I love a goal and I don’t get many so I will cherish that and look to get more before the end of the season.

“In terms of the future, I just want to enjoy my football. And I will go from there.”

A last minute own goal allowed Aveley to snatch a point at play-off chasers Dereham Town.

James Webster’s charges fell behind inside seven minutes as Rhys Logan found the bottom corner of the net.

But the Millers deservedly levelled on the half hour mark as Stephenson powered home a Lewis Gard cross.

Gard and Chris Bourne were both denied on the goal line before the break, but Dereham regained the lead on 57 minutes after Sam Borrer headed home a free-kick which had been conceded due to a Rhys Madden handball.

However, Aveley were not to be denied and snatched a 98th minute equaliser thanks to Ollie Ebbage putting through his own net.