Canvey kept their two-point lead at the top ao the Ryman Premier with what proved to eventually be a fairly comfortable win over basement visitors Croydon.

With heavy rain being accompanied by a strong wind which blew against them in the opening half, Canvey hit the post after two minutes through Adam Miller, but struggled to make a breakthrough.

In fact the struggling visitors, who beat Canvey 2-1 at home in September, might have taken a 23rd-minute lead when Craig Dundas sprung an attempted offside trap -- only to be foiled by a save with his legs by home goalkeeper Ashley Harrison, who stood up well as the Croydon man advanced on him.

A minute later, Harrison dived to save from Nicky Greene and, although Miller was foiled by visiting keeper Matt Martin after 35 minutes, it was the second-half before Canvey were in full flow.

Immediately on the resumption, Martin pushed a Spencer Knight effort on to the bar and over and, as the Islanders moved into top gear, the busy visiting stopper was forced to turn round his post when Croydon defender Mark Dickinson nearly deflected a Boylan cross into his own net.

The stalemate was broken after 64 minutes when, following superb work by Lee Boylan on the right, Neil Gregory netted from a position virtually under the posts. Three minutes later Boylan nabbed his 28th of the season after robbing defender Marc Crome.

It was one-way traffic now. Knight hit the woodwork again after 68 minutes. Both substitute Steve Tilson and Gregory were foiled by Martin.

Then Steve Parmenter -- rested along with Chris Duffy and Mark Stimson from the starting line-up -- grabbed the third after 85 minutes, soon after hitting the bar with a brilliant overhead scissors kick. This ensured Gulls' third 3-0 League win in eight days.

Said home boss Jeff King: "Just as in the FA Trophy game at Grantham a few weeks ago, when the elements were against us in the opening half, we had to be patient tonight. I told the players at half-time that the goals would come if we kept working -- and they did."

There was some disappointment here for the Islanders also as closest challengers Gravesend did fall 1-0 behind at home to Aldershot before winning 2-1. They have two matches in hand on Gulls.

Published Wednesday, February 20, 2002