Canvey Island's inability to kill off inferior opposition continues to hit their bid for a high placing in their first season as a Ryman league Premier Division club.

Since becoming only the second team this term to overcome leaders Dagenham and Red-bridge over Christmas, Gulls have failed to beat two teams struggling to avoid the big drop.

At New Year they went down to Boreham Wood away and on Saturday failed to take advantage of two of their fellow high-fliers, Chesham and Aldershot, being beaten.

Gulls have slipped to sixth place, but clubs are beginning to gather below them now and a place in the top eight or nine may eventually be the Islanderrs more realistic aim.

That would be good for a first try, but manager Jeff King and his troops know that they are capable of much more.

Certainly Ayelsbury, once they sensed that Canvey lacked the killer touch, lifted their game and were delighted to collect three badly-needed points.

From a Canvey point of view, major improvements will have to be shown if there are to be realistic success hopes at Conference side Sutton United in the FA Trophy next weekend.

Gulls took a 26th-minute lead when Chris Duffy's cross from the left went over experienced visiting goalkeeper Gary Phillips for on-loan striker Neil Gregory to tap home at the far post.

Scott Honeyball grabbed a sweet 50th-minute equaliser, but the Islanders should have gone on to three points once Paul Abrahams, Gregory and Duffy combined for skipper Steve Tilson to shoot them back in front after 55 minutes.

Dad-to-be Abrahams provided a stream of great crosses from the right and one caught the upright before bouncing into the grateful Phillips' arms.

However, Aylesbury sensed that Canvey's inability to grab a third was making the home side weary and levelled through Phil Mason's 78th minute free-kick.

From that point on home disappointment turned to abject misery when Danny Hutchins nabbed an 81st-minute winner for the visitors, who badly needed this boost as bottom club Harrow and fellow strugglers Heybridge also both won away.

Get away - Canvey's Andy Jones avoids the attentions of an Aylesbury player during the Gulls' 2-1 defeat at Park Lane

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.