Essex rivalries were renewed on Saturday, with Grays putting a serious dent in Canvey's Championship aspirations with a shock 2-1 success at Park Lane.

A tight and pressure-filled encounter burst into life after only four minutes, as expert build-up play from Chris Duffy and Danny Bolt fed Lee Boylan, and the Canvey top scorer needed no invitation on his way to bagging his 38th goal of the season.

That was unjust on Grays, who went on to show good potential in the first half, gaining their reward seven minutes before half-time as Tony Lock battled his way through the Canvey defence before hammering a shot past the helpless Ashley Harrison to restore parity.

And before the half-time whistle was sounded, Grays had turned the match on its head as Alan McLeod spun in the area to make it 2-1.

The expected fightback by Canvey never properly materialised in the second half, with Grays at times looking embarrassed by the ease with which they were dominating proceedings.

Boylan and Bolt went closest for the Islanders, before Mervyn Abraham had the chance to further humiliate the hosts though was denied by Harrison as time ticked away, and with it, possibly, Canvey's hopes of promotion.

They would have been slightly boosted by title rivals Gravesend's inability to get past Basingstone in a 0-0 affair, and lead the table by one point with three matches left to play - Gravesend play their crucial game in hand against Hampton & Richmond Borough this coming Tuesday night.

Matchday Attendance: 728

Published Sunday April 7, 2002