Canvey Island picked up a vital point from a draw with an Enfield side who again played at St Albans following the sale of their Southbury Road home.

Enfield no longer have a home of their own and, with the club's very future in doubt, fans have been voting with their feet by staying away from "home" games.

This match was played in front of only 187 paying fans, many of whom made the trip from Canvey. Those who stayed away missed an exciting end-to-end clash which could have easily gone in either side's favour.

With on-loan Colchester striker Neil Gregory building up an increasing understanding with his team-mates, Canvey were always a potent attacking force, while Enfield had a good display from midfielder Dave McDonald, who enjoyed a brief spell on the Island earlier in their campaign, for much of their threatening play.

After a couple of early Canvey half-chances, another Enfield dangerman, John Morgan, was foiled by Gulls' goalkeeper Ashley Harrison's save after 19 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Andy Jones headed over from Steve Tilson's free-kick and, eight minutes before the break, Enfield keeper Andy Hall came perilously close to carrying the ball over his own line when Garry Britnell headed in a corner.

The contrast between Enfield's enthusiastic, mainly young side and the silky skills of the Canvey men made for an absorbing contest and it was Gulls' opponents who took the lead after 48 minutes when Richard Dunwell scored from John Deadman's centre.

Canvey aimed to retaliate quickly and, after Gregory had combined well with ex-Colchester colleague Paul Abrahams, Enfield defender Jeff Wolsey did well to thwart Jones with a timely challenge.

Gulls were stepping up the pressure now and, when Enfield's Lee Protheroe headed over his own bar from a corner, Tilson sent in a set-piece from the right and Jones scored with a left-foot shot after 55 minutes.

Harrison worked well to punch clear one dangerous cross clear and then, with 15 minutes left, improvised to race from his area and head clear when Kevin Rattray looked in with a scoring chance.

At the other end Jones was blocked and, to be fair, a sharing of the spoils on an entertaining afternoon was probably the fairest result.

The point gained keeps Canvey fifth - although all four teams above them won to move further ahead.

Tomorrow night Gulls host Division Three Ryman Tilbury aiming to move into the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior Cup they won in such fine style last year.

The biggest immediate attraction is a week today when all-conquering Premier leaders Dagenham and Redbridge come to Park Lane in a game expected to attract a Bank Holiday crowd well into four figures (1.30pm).

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