It was a case of game, set and match to Canvey Island as Jeff King's men continued their seemingly irresistible march towards the Ryman League Division One title.

For set piece goals by Andy Jones in the closing minutes of each half kept Gulls seven points clear at the top, although closest rivals Hitchin still have a game in hand.

With the other main promotion-chasing sides slipping again, the Islanders promotion no longer seems in question.

Another boost for the club came with a letter that the League's executive are "very pleased" after inspecting work being carried out to obtain the A grading needed to play at the top flight.

Jones, goal king of the Island for much of the 90s, has been something of a bit player in this campaign, one which for him has been ruined by illness and injury.

However, with Steve Tilson out on a ban, it was very much a case of "cometh the hour, cometh the man" as Leatherhead were left spluttering just above the relegation zone.

Dithering by the Surrey visitors eventually meant that Canvey were forced to kick-off at the same time as the England international and Gulls set off at the kind of pace which suggested Leatherhead were going to pay for their indecision.

The Islanders were, in fact, just a little too anxious to get going and left a couple of gaps at the back early on, but Nigel Webb missed out both times with hopeless finishing.

Nevertheless, it was 45 minutes before Gulls opened their account. Central defender Tommy Warrilow pulled Steve Parmenter down on the edge of the box and Jones stepped up to beat the defensive wall and goalkeeper in a fashion Zola or Beckham would have been proud of.

Gulls had plenty of possession after the break and made it 2-0 after 74 minutes when a Jones and Alan Brett inspired move set Chris Payne free to round a defender and shoot home under the goalkeeper.

The action was in the last minute when Brett was sent sprawling in the box and Jones stepped up to complete the comprehensive demolition job from the penalty spot.

Canvey are next in action tomorrow night when they host Leyton Pennant in the Essex Thames-side Trophy. Fans are reminded that the Park Lance action with another relegation-threatened side, Whyteleafe, is on Good Friday at 3pm and not Saturday.

In the final of the Essex Senior Cup, on April 26 at Roots Hall, Gulls now know they will be playing Leyton Orient, who beat Heybridge in a semi-final penalty shoot-out.

Steve Parmenter - in sparkling form for Canvey during their 3-0 romp against Leatherhead Billericay slump continues with Hendon defeat

Hendon..................................2

Billericay Town................0

A further indication that the end of the season cannot arrive quickly enough for Billericay Town came in this drab game at mid-table Hendon.

The match kicked off two hours earlier than normal to avoid a clash with the England match down the road at Wembley Stadium.

Sadly, the early start seemed to catch those out on the field half-asleep with goalmouth action at a premium in this Ryman League Premier Division affair.

Long gone are the golden days of last November when Billericay, back in the top flight for the first time in 12 years, were leading the table.

Since the turn of the year Billericay have picked up only 15 points from 16 games. They still hold seventh position at the moment, but a number of clubs closing in below them have plenty of games in hand and look set to overtake the New Lodge side.

Three of Town's remaining six games are against teams struggling against relegation so they can still launch a late finale. If they fail to, it could be a case of John Kendall's men aiming for a finishing slot in the top half rather than the leading six they craved for.

To be honest, Saturday's affair was one for both sides to forget. In Billericay's case they went out without key midfielder Dean Parratt, nursing a groin injury.

They lost Steve Blaney, also from the midfield department, at the interval with an ankle injury.

Then star striker David Adekola, who had suffered an anonymous game, was forced off with a knock in the closing stages.

At least this gave one of Town's big hopes for the future, recent midfield signing from Hullbridge David Kreyling, his first taste of Premier football and the 17-year-old got a chance to find the pace of the game.

Steve Portway, scorer of five goals in his previous four games, has had an incredible amount of efforts hit the woodwork since his arrival from Gravesend.

His shot hit the angle of post and bar close to half-time, but Hendon went ahead through a 57th minute strike from top scorer Paul Whitmarsh.

Then Gary Fitzgerald wrapped up the points with a second with a header from a corner 12 minutes later.

Keiren Adams had another bright game in Billericay's midfield and the visitors failed to take advantage of a couple of useful Martin St Hilaire runs in the opening half.

However, generally it was an afternoon to forget and fans will be looking for a big improvement on next Saturday's visit to struggling Bromley.

In she goes - Leatherhead's goalkeeper fails to keep out Gulls' striker Andy Jones' free kick

Pictures: MAXINE CLARKE

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