Canvey's hopes of going into today's (Tuesday's) FA Cup replay at Port Vale boosted by victory at Aldershot were ended when Wayne Andrews grabbed the only goal of the game after 55 minutes for the Hampshire hosts.

Ironically, both teams were overhauled at the top of the table by Farnborough Town, 4-2 winners at St Albans, and now only goal difference separates the big three - although the new leaders have a game in hand.

Island boss Jeff King honestly admitted afterwards that Shots had just about edged the game. He said: "I was a bit disappointed as I didn't think we got into the game quite enough and they were better than us on the day."

However, the Canvey manager was less happy about a couple of incidents. He said: "There was a definite foul in the build-up to their goal with Mark Stimson receiving an elbow in the face on the halfway line.

"Then, late on, we should have had a penalty when Neil Gregory was bundled over in the penalty area. An assistant referee told me afterwards he thought it was a penalty and, although I'm sure referee Jeff Pettitt gave what he thought was an honest decision, I believe he was wrong."

King agreed with suggestions that Shots' hostile crowd - the action here was watched by 2,489, the biggest non-league attendance of the day - put extra pressure on match officials.

A ding-dong encounter on a difficult wet surface saw few real chances before the break. However, Andrews's scoring effort saw the match develop into a ding-dong affair which swung one way and then the other.

Defender Mick Bodley came closest for Canvey when his header from a corner was tipped over by Andy Pape in the home goal, but former Southend United, Peterborough and Barnet man Bodley then got his marching orders for picking up two cautions.

In their efforts to earn a share of the spoils, King sent on both Andy Jones and Steve Clark from the bench to set-up a four-man attacking force but, although top scorer Wayne Vaughan twice went close late on, Gulls were destined to leave with no reward.

In fact, top marksman Gary Abbott should have had a second for Shots late on, but shot wide when completely clear.

So Canvey were beaten for the second away League game running and left to prepare for tonight's epic first round proper clash with the Nationwide League Second Division Potteries' outfit.

King will need to hold a roll-call of his stars before naming a side for that tie as a number of players picked up knocks in this full-bloodied affair and needed treatment.

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