Manager Jeff King admitted that his side could now happily turn their full attentions to Friday's vital FA Trophy clash after last night's 2-1 win.

The victory moved them up to third place in the Ryman Premier table following a hard-fought success at second-from-bottom Bishop's Stortford last night.

Gulls certainly were not given an easy ride in the build-up to the visit to Witton Albion to take on Nationwide Conference Northwich Victoria in two days time.

Said King: "Stortford really came at us, but we scored two very good goals and might well have had a third late on.

"Lee Boylan in particular has hit a rich vein of scoring form recently and his effort tonight was another marvellous one."

This was the Islanders' eighth league game without defeat and there is no doubt that they are very much the in-form side in the championship chase.

Two free-kicks from Jeff Minton, one off-target and the other saved, set the scene for the visitors at Stortford and they finally went ahead after 39 minutes when defender Gavin Cowan rose to head home Steve Parmenter's free-kick.

But the desperate hosts were soon back on terms minutes before the interval when Trevor Paul scored.

There were chances at either end as the second-half got underway, but Canvey regained control in the 62nd minute when Minton's corner was headed down by Cowan for Boylan to score with a sweet volley -- bringing his tally to 22 for the season and 10 in his last seven games.

From that point on Canvey always looked likely winners and came close to adding to their tally in the 80th minute when, from substitute Bertie Brayley's cross, skipper Neil Gregory thundered in an effort which rebounded from the underside of the bar.

With local rivals Billericay doing the Islanders a favour by beating second-placed St Albans, the three points gained leave King's men seven behind top dogs Aldershot from level games -- with the Hampshire side still having to make a trip to Park Lane.

Kevin Dobinson played his first full league game for Canvey since October after injury.

Published Wednesday, January 29, 2003

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