We came, we saw, and so nearly conquered... that was the defiant message from Canvey after a fine Nationwide Conference debut against pre-season title favourites Carlisle in front of a partisan 7,234 crowd on Saturday.

Coming through - Ben Sedgemore tries to avoid a challenge from Carlisle's Brendan McGill Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Only the width of the crossbar, which kept out midfield battler John Kennedy's 73rd minute strike, stopped Gulls returning with all three points against a team whose Houdini-style escapalogy from Football League relegation finally ended last season.

The Cumbrians set off at express-train speed and only four minutes had gone when visiting goalkeeper Danny Potter dived low to his right to turn Karl Hawley's 20-yard drive wide.

After 16 minutes Potter was again showing all the magic of his namesake Harry by pushing Chris Billy's 10-yard effort round a post and he was soon at in again, keeping out a header from home defensive kingpin Tom Cowan.

But by now Canvey were starting to find the pace of the game and their own rhythm.

With the majestic Dave McGhee steadying the ship at the heart of defence, recent Football League signing Ben Sedgemore and playmaker Jeff Minton were finding their feet in midfield and causing problems for the hosts.

Skipper Neil Gregory, working tirelessly with goal star Lee Boylan up front, started collecting a number of free-kicks when home defenders found him difficult to handle in the air and, from one, Boylan had home keeper Matty Glennon diving smartly to save.

Published Monday August 16, 2004

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