Canvey Island defensive stalwart Steve Ward looks set to be fully recovered from his ankle injury for the new campaign.

Ward missed much of the latter stages of last season but got back into playing action with the Middlesex Wanderers side on their two-game tour to the Gambia, West Africa.

The two matches were at the Indepence Stadium in Banjul against the Gambian Armed Forces and Sait Martty, who are currently first and second in their domestic league.

Both sides contained full Gambian internationals who had played in the team that drew at home with Senegal in the African Nations Cup qualifier.

The first game was played in 90 degree temperatures and Ward missed this due to his injury.

Most of the squad came from the Conference apart from Alex O'Reilly (Purfleet) and former Canvey man Danny Bolt (Sutton).

The Gambian team scored late on to win 1-0 but Wanderers missed some great chances, mostly set up by Bolt when he came on with 20 minutes to go.

Ward played in the second game, replacing Doncaster's Tim Ryan and teaming up with Dagenham's Mark Smith and Stevenage's Micky Warner and Barry Laker at the back.

Wanderers went 1-0 behind to a well-struck free kick before Laker equalised soon after.

Mark Bentley, who has recently joined Dagenham and Redbridge, stabbed home the winner during a goalmouth scramble in the second half.

"One of the highlights of the tour was the trip to the schools where we distributed football kit and stationery," said Ward.

"The FA had donated some England kits which were given out, but not before I handed over a set of Canvey Island FC shirts donated by reserve boss John Batch and Venom Sports (CIFC) along with some shorts, socks and rain jackets. The faces of the recipients was very refreshing and they were overjoyed.

"The school only had one football and so they received some of the balls donated by Jeff Saxton, my old Grays Athletic manager, from Benfleet."

Published Thursday, June 12, 2003

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