Canvey soccer boss Jeff King was quick to concede that his side are second best for the third season running after losing their Ryman League Premier Division top-of-the table clash to Aldershot Town 1-0 at Park Lane last night.

The Hampshire side need just four points from their remaining five games to confirm themselves as title holders and win the coveted place in the Nationwide Conference, sentencing Gulls to runners-up spot once again.

Every picture tells a story - Canvey's Bertie Brayley watches Aldershot's Dominic Sterling celebrate his side's win at park Lane last night Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

"It's all over now and good luck to them. They've done it throughout the season and we haven't," said King.

"It's not this defeat tonight which has cost us the championship, but our diabolical start to the season when we took only 11 of the first 30 points on offer.

"There was a good reason for that in as much as we were forced to make wholesale changes, including almost a completely new midfield, in the summer. But that won't be happening this time round.

"I plan to make a couple of new summer signings and there will be three or four of our squad going, but generally I feel we have the players here to win us the championship."

Published Wednesday, April 16, 2003

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