Chelmsford City will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in the National League South to eight matches when they head to high-flying Aveley for an Essex derby on Monday night.
The visitors will enter the contest off the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Chippenham Town on Saturday, while Aveley had a man sent off in a 3-0 loss at Bath on the same afternoon.
Match preview
Cody Cooke scored a hat-trick as Bath beat Aveley 3-0 in the National League South on Saturday afternoon, with the loss proving to be Aveley's first in the National League South for over a month.
Jason Ring was sent off in the final exchanges, when Bath were already two goals ahead, before Cooke scored his second penalty of the match shortly before the full-time whistle.
Aveley remain in second position in the table, boasting a record of 10 wins, two draws and five defeats from their opening 17 league games of the season.
Danny Scopes's side are six points behind the leaders Yeovil Town, while they are just one clear of both third-placed Bath and fourth-placed Hampton & Richmond ahead of Monday's affair.
The Millers have been promoted in their last two campaigns, last season from the Isthmian League, so it would be some achievement if the team were able to rise another level for the 2024-25 campaign, and their results this season have demonstrated that they can certainly compete at this level.
Chelmsford, meanwhile, finished fifth in the National League South last season, but they lost to St Albans City in the quarter-finals of the playoffs to keep them at this level.
The Clarets will enter Monday's contest off the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Chippenham, and they needed to twice come from behind to secure a share of the spoils.
Luke Jenkins made it 1-1 late in the first period after Dan Ellison had opened the scoring; Chippenham were back ahead in the 71st minute through Owen Windsor, but Chelmsford managed to level it at 2-2 in the third minute of added time at the end of the 90 through Alfa Odysseus.
Robbie Simpson's side are now unbeaten in their last seven league matches, with their last defeat coming at home to St Albans City on September 23.
The Clarets currently sit seventh in the National League South table, boasting a record of six wins, eight draws and three defeats, with 26 points just enough to see them sit inside the playoffs positions.
Team News
Both managers will need to carefully assess the fitness of their players due to the quick turnaround, with the two teams in action on Saturday afternoon.
Aveley will definitely be without the services of Ring following his red card against Bath, but the team have not reported any fresh fitness concerns from their three-goal defeat.
Siju Odelusi has scored five times in the league this season and should continue in a midfield area, while Sydney Ibie should also be given the nod in the final third of the field.
Chelmsford are in a similar situation when it comes to fitness, with head coach Simpson unlikely to be able to make any final decisions until the night before the match.
Mohamed Bettamer has scored three times in the league this season and should again feature in an attacking area, while Alfa could also be in the side, fresh from his late goal against Chippenham.
Jermaine Francis is also in line to feature in the starting side for the Essex outfit, with changes expected from Saturday due to the quick turnaround.
Aveley possible starting lineup:
North; Gibbs, Jones, Davis, Vaz; Kyei, Kelly, Dada, Odelusi; Ibie, Brown
Chelmsford City possible starting lineup:
Oluwayemi; James, Jenkins, Carruthers, Ochieng; Castiglione, Ruff, Hockey, Bettamer; Alfa, Francis
We say: Aveley 1-1 Chelmsford City
There is not a huge difference when it comes to the quality of these sides, and we are expecting a competitive match on Monday night. A draw would not be the worst result in the world for either team, and both managers could be forced to accept a share of the spoils in the Essex derby.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
