With the 15-minute delay to allow travel-weary fans to get into the ground, last night's first-ever Conference game at Park Lane certainly proved a late night special.

Closing in - Matt Joseph comes under pressure Picture: ANNA LUKALA

But following an opening day draw, Canvey should have had all three points on offer from this home clash with their old Kent rivals.

That they did not was down to visiting goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson who atoned for an earlier error which led to the Canvey goal by diving to his left and pulling off a tremendous save from Ben Sedgemore, who enjoyed another fine game in the home midfield, as the game moved into injury-time.

With the Islanders playing their first Conference home match, and Gravesend defending a 13-game undefeated away league run, both sides looked nervous early on.

But, with the visiting outfit's skipper Billy McKimm keeping a close watch on Jeff Minton in midfield, it was Gravesend who stole the early honours.

The home defence was caught flat-footed after 13 minutes when former Billericay Town striker Roy Essandoh's header from Matt Rouse's deep free-kick opened the scoring.

At this stage ex-West ham man Manny Omoyinmi was a threat down the left and 30 minutes had gone before the home side launched their first real goal raid - defender Dave McGhee heading wastefully wide at the far post from Jeff Minton's free-kick.

Gravesend retaliated with Omoyinmi out-pacing Peter Smith and crossing for outstanding youngster Andy Drury, who had started the move, putting a final header off-target.

The Islanders, as at Carlisle, grew in strength as the first-half wore on and Smith put Lee Boylan away for a great reverse cross which saw Minton agonisingly put a free header wide of the far post.

Canvey looked much stronger as the second-half got under way but an hour had gone before they forced their first corner from a fine Sedgemore free-kick.

Gravesend retaliated with a good Drury run which ended with a shot straight at Potter.

But straightaway Gulls equalised. A long ball from the heart of defence seemed likely to be easily collected Wilkerson, but home skipper Neil Gregory had other ideas.

He outpaced central defender Graham Port who, previously alongside ex-Billericay favourite Chris Moore had been a dominating factor, and challenged Wilkerson for possession.

In the ensuring scramble the stopper lost the ball, allowing goal-king Lee Boylan to open his competitive account for the season.

Published Wednesday August 18, 2004

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