Purfleet will be hoping to bounce back from their comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of leaders Canvey in their last game when they host Maidenhead United tomorrow.

Fleet had their Boxing Day match with second-placed Gravesend and Northfleet postponed but need to start putting some wins together if this season is to be anything more than one of mid-table obscurity in the Ryman League Premier Division.

They currently stand 11th, two places and two points behind tomorrow's visitors, who are managed by one-time West Ham favourite Alan Devonshire.

If Grays are to finish the campaign as high as their current fourth position they will need to start improving on a recent record which shows just two wins in the last six.

On Boxing Day they slumped 1-0 at third from bottom Grays and could find things tough tomorrow at Essex rivals Braintree, just one place and a point behind.

In Division Two, leaders East Thurrock United, having lost two of their last three matches, might find it tough to get back on the win trail at Arlesey, while Tilbury will be looking to build on the Boxing Day derby success over Rocks by seeing off last season's FA Vase beaten finalists, Berkhamsted, at St Chad's.

Berko are currently eighth, one point and one place ahead of the Dockers, who have played a game more.

Division Three Aveley are another side who were wiped out of Boxing Day action by the cold.

They are still second, but could find it far from easy at Hertford Town, who are six points behind Aveley with a game in hand.

Published Friday December 28, 2001