Canvey Island have received a tremendous boost prior to Saturday's bid to get their first Nationwide Conference home win when More-cambe visit Park Lane.

For key central defender Steve Ward has been cleared to play by the Football Association after being sent off for allegedly committing a professional foul in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Woking.

Ward, enjoying a tremendous performance in his first full game of the season, collided with opposition substitute striker Amos Foyewa four minutes from time as the Woking man bore down on the visiting goal.

Referee Andrew Sainsbury ruled that Ward had denied the opponent a goal-scoring opportunity.

But Gulls argued that the ball had been played too far in front of him by Foyewa and that goalkeeper Danny Potter was easily going to reach it first and clear.

Canvey sent video evidence to the FA backing their case and yesterday heard that the ruling body agreed that Ward had been wrongfully dismissed. The FA overturned the red card, leaving the defender clear to play with immediate effect.

With Ben Chenery out with a hamstring tear, Ward looks certain to be in the starting line-up this weekend.