Canvey Island face a daunting task in trying to stop the Ryman Premier Division rot with a visit to hugely-supported Aldershot Town tonight.

You'd think that, with just one point from their last four games, Gulls would hardly relish visiting the former Football league side who are likely to be backed by a 2,000 plus crowd.

However, statistics show that Jeff King's men have undoubtedly shown their best form against the top opposition in their first season in the top flight.

The Islanders looked like being in with a chance of runners-up spot a fortnight ago, but now know they must start producing results if they are not to slump as low as sixth in the final table.

Aldershot's form in recent months has been immaculate. Twenty-one points behind runaway leaders Dagenham and Redbridge with five games in hand, Shots are probably just too far back to take the title and a place in the Nationwide Conference.

However, they certainly have at least runners-up spot very much in their grasp and the visiting rearguard, sadly likely to be without injured Steve Ward again, will have to cope with the most lethal striker at this level of the game, Shots' Gary Abbott, who has been in superb form in recent times.

Apart from wanting to finish as high as possible in the League, Canvey desperately need to find some form for their continuation in three knockout competitions.

Next Monday they take on in-form Purfleet in defence of the Essex Senior Cup at Roots Hall, and two days later hope to win through to a date with Saffron Walden in the Eastern Floodlight Competition when they play Burnham Ramblers at Park Lane.

In the Essex Thames-side Trophy, victory at Waltham Abbey on April 26 would see the blue and yellow army up against Purfleet in another final.

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