Billericay yesterday became the latest club to discover that, with the possible exception of Gravesend and Northfleet, Canvey are in a class of their own in the chase for the Ryman Premier title.

Head first - Gulls' John Kennedy gets in ahead of Billericay striker Steve Darlington 5AHDB19M

The Park Lane outfit warmed the Boxing Day hearts of their fans in a big crowd of 1,408 on a bitterly cold day by stretching their unbeaten run in all competitions to 26 games in a game which they could eventually have won by five or six goals.

In stark contrast, Town have failed to win in eight starts now -- even though they boosted their artillery for this lively encounter with the inclusion of highly-experienced striker Steve Darlington, signed from fellow Premier side Chesham.

Darlington certainly enjoyed some bright moments in the home strike force, but was guilty of a couple of bad misses and will surely be a useful addition to a Billericay squad which quite honestly looks like needing the shake-up boss Gary Calder has promised in readiness for next season.

Darlington's strike partner KK Opara also had his moments, but, not for the first time this term, showed his immaturity by getting himself sent off for a quite needless piece of retaliation after 59 minutes following a foul by Canvey's Peter Smith.

Smith, booked after the melee which saw Opara banished, could well have received his marching orders as well eight minutes later for a clumsy challenge on Andy Tomlinson.

As it is Smith, already facing a two-match ban which puts him out of Saturday week's FA Cup tie at Burnley, will now face a further spell out of action.

Billericay had their fair share of the first-half chances -- even though one sensed that Canvey generally had control. Visiting skipper Ben Chenery, enjoying a superb match at the heart of defence, cleared a Joe Baker goalbound effort off the line after eight minutes.

However, the Islanders retaliated after 16 minutes with Gavin King standing up well in the home goal when Lee Boylan broke clear and blocking the striker's shot.

Both sides played some neat football on a difficult hard surface and Steve Parmenter, fed by the industrious John Kennedy's cross, sent in a 20th minute header which has visiting fans screaming for handball when the effort was blocked in the box.

Darlington should undoubtedly have opened his Town account after 32 minutes when a Smith slip left him clear, but he shot too softly and Harrison saved with ease. Just how costly that was to be was proved within seconds when Canvey broke forward and midfielder Adam Miller's superb through ball saw Paul Cobb lift the ball over the onrushing King and into the net.

Baker crossed from left and right before the break, but Opara and Darlington both shot wide in wasteful fashion.

Dean Morris substituted for the injured Kevin Jordan for Billericay at half-time and, within two minutes of the resumption, was thwarted by a superb Harrison save.

Billericay enjoyed their best spell either side of the interval and, after 50 minutes, Baker crossed from the left for Martin Carthy to joyously net from close range -- only for home fans' cheers to turn to tears as they saw the assistant referee's flag signalling offside.

Canvey again retaliated quickly with Parmenter cracking a great effort against the post from Mark Stimson's free-kick. Darlington, again in a good position, shot wide after 54 minutes but, once Opara went off, there was only one winner.

A 73rd minute foul by star home man Sacha Opinel on Kennedy saw Boylan stay at the top of the Island scoring charts with his 16th goal of the season by firing home from the penalty spot.

Gulls were rampant now and, when King raced from his area to flatten substitute Chris Duffy, on the left, Miller's free-kick saw Chenery nip in to head home for his first goal since May's FA Trophy final winner.

Darlington, although short of match practice, never gave up and added to the home catalogue of misses with a wide header, but King saved in style from Miller and then thwarted another sub, Wayne Vaughan, as the visitors ended the match in complete control.

Said visiting boss Jeff King: "As in Saturday's derby with Purfleet, I thought we were the far better side at the end of the day.

"The players continue to show a marvellous attitude throughout the side and the longer our unbeaten run goes on the more confident they are."

Published Thursday December 27, 2001