While the 500 plus crowd were left purring in admiration at the debut goal of Hull's ex-England man Nick Barmby, Canvey fans hailed their own new hero following this opening pre-season friendly at Park Lane on Friday night.

Captain's return - Neil Gregory battles for possession during Canvey's first pre-season friendly PIcture: ROB BROWNE

Dominic Sterling has joined Gulls after turning down the chance of becoming part of Aldershot Town's new full-time set-up and, playing all the first half and part of the second, proved a giant force at the heart of the Islanders' rearguard.

Sterling marked the start of his Canvey career with a hefty challenge on the newly-promoted League One side's highly-rated ex-Motherwell midfielder Stuart Elliott in the opening minutes and carried on from there.

Home coach Glenn Pennyfather enthused: "I thought Dominic was outstanding. He made his presence felt right from the start and never put a foot wrong throughout."

It has to be said, however, that Barmby, who has changed clubs in deals worth nearly £20m in his career but arrived at home town club Hull a fortnight ago on a free transfer from troubled Leeds United, was the big attraction on the night.

A loyal band of Tigers' supporters had come down specially to see his first appearance and, when he took the field at the start of the second-half, he quickly repaid them.

After a fine move on the 52nd-minute mark, he flicked the ball up with the outside of his boot and, as it fell to the ground, fired a low shot past second-half goalkeeper Ashley Harrison.

Hull manager Peter Taylor, the England Under-21 boss, was quick to praise his new signing, who was part of the England team that, less than three years ago, won a World Cup qualifier 5-1 in West Germany.

"We all know what Nick is capable of and it was a fantastic goal," he said. In fact, Taylor, who started his career at Park Lane before setting off on a playing career that encompassed Southend United, Spurs and England, was delighted with the proceedings as a whole.

"It was a good work-out," he enthused. "Canvey is a difficult place to come to and they've got a lot of players from pro clubs. We enjoyed it when we won 1-0 last year, but I think this was even better."

Gulls sadly lacked finishing power due to the absence of goal machine Lee Boylan and Junior McDougald, still recovering from a summer toe operation.

Published Monday July 19, 2004

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