Soccer round-up: Islanders' onslaught pays off...

For the second successive home match Gulls, due to the live TV screening of England's European championship qualifier, kicked off at noon and the truth is that the Islanders could easily have matched the international side's six-goal thumping of Luxembourg.

In the second period, Canvey were guilty of some wayward finishing as the bemused Surrey visitors found it impossible to keep pace with glorious build-up play from the home side.

Boss Jeff King was entitled to feel a contented man afterwards when he said: "Some of our play in the second-half was brilliant. The lack of further goals was the only thing that spoilt it.

"We should have won by at least four or five, but we completely dominated the game after the break and I've got to be happy with that and keeping another clean sheet.

Carshalton, who only kept their Premier place at the end of last term as Wealdstone didn't have facilities to come up from Division One, had given as good as they got in the opening half.

With Junior Haynes causing problems with his attacking forays down the left, Canvey had to rely on a last-ditch tackle from Micky Bennett to stop Paul Sears giving the visitors a 13th minute lead.

Then, from the resultant corner, a Matt Elverson header was scrambled off the line. Canvey came more into the game from this point and Craig Davidson, who has been given far greater opportunity to show his attacking abilities down the left since Gulls started playing with three big men at the back, shot over just before the break with visiting keeper Adrian Blake a helpless spectator after blocking a Steve Tilson effort.

Gulls really came out with their sleeves rolled up after the interval and it took just three minutes for ex Southend United man Paul Williams to open his account for the season when he scored with a simple effort after a delightful move involving Davidson, Mark Stimson and Chris Duffy.

Amazingly, within two minutes, Williams might have had a hat-trick. First he just missed connecting with a deflected cross and then saw his header from Davidson's set-up turned wide by Blake.

From this point on Canvey, with Stimson, Chris Duffy and Scott Lindsey unstoppable in midfield, tore Carshalton apart but amazingly could not add to their tally.

Davidson missed out on a couple more chances and for once last season's top scorer Steve Tilson, despite playing a major part in some great build-up play, left his shooting boots at home.

At one point Tilson was left with a clear goal to shoot at, but put his effort wide and, while there was only one goal in it, there were fears that a visiting side attack led by wily ex Sutton United campaigner Richard Newbery might break away for a shock equaliser.

With Chris Moore, Bennett and Steve Ward so commanding at the back - and Ashley Harrison looking far comfortable in goal than during Monday's win over Purfleet - Canvey ran out deserved winners to leave their Yellow Army of fans eagerly anticipating tomorrow night's visit to New Lodge (7.30pm) to take on Billericay Town.

(Right) It's a sitter - Steve Tilson misses an open goal for Canvey

Mixing it up - Carshalton's Matt Elverson gets to grips with Canvey's Chris Duffy

Pictures: LUAN MARSHALL

Striker sums don't add up for Billericay boss

DAGENHAM........................... 2

BILLERICAY............................1

Are top non-league goalscorers beginning to believe their own publicity that they're worth their weight in gold?

That's the worry for Ryman League Premier Division side Billericay Town boss Gary Calder as he continues his search for striking talent.

Calder revealed that he had agreed terms with two clubs for the services of goal stars in the past week - but had turned down the "extortionate" personal demands of the players involved.

He said: "What some players are asking you'd think they were going to play with Alan Shearer in the Premiership rather than the Ryman Premier.

"I wouldn't go to my chairman trying to justify demands like that. I had one striker who told me he'd play for us in Friday night's game with Dagenham for £350. Needless to say I declined his offer.

"Believe me, I'll get the right strikers here although it might take time. I'm determined to go about it in the right way and get this club players who want to play a part in Billericay's future."

Calder did have one new striker on show at high-flying Dagenham and Redbridge in the shape of 26 year-old Londoner Bryan Habbatt who has joined on a month's loan from fellow Premier side Slough.

On the evidence of the Non League Football Directory, Habbatt has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus, but that mattered little to Billericay fans among the 1102 crowd who liked what they saw.

Due to the "backs to the wall" type of game Billericay were forced to play at their star-studded hosts, Habbatt was often left to play a solo attacking role which he did to such good effect that he often had ex-Southend United man Mick Bodley and his co-defenders in difficulties.

In fact, having missed out on an earlier chance, Habbatt gave Billericay a shock 43rd minute lead when Russell Penn, who again, with Kenny Roudette, enjoyed an outstanding game at the back, sent a long ball from defence which Lee Williams flicked on with his head.

Habbatt took his time before silencing home fans with an accurate effort which gave former Roots Hall goalkeeper Paul Newell no chance.

Another ex Southend man, Matt Jones, then teamed up with Junior McDougald to put Steve Heffer in for a far post equaliser just before half-time.

Despite the fact that Daggers enjoyed most of the attacking play they seemed to have left their shooting boots at home and Billericay, with increasingly impressive midfielder Paul Linger doing some great work at either end of the field, looked in with a chance of sharing the spoils.

All that changed 14 minutes from time when back from injury Sammy Cooper, booked in the first-half for pulling an opponent back, got his marching orders with a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

It was just the lift Dagenham, showing increasing frustration, needed and, when ex West Ham winger Matthew Rush broke on the right, McDougald was on hand to grab the winner with a powerful header.

FA Cup gloom for duo

Hopes of Southend Manor making further progress in the FA Cup were ended on Saturday when both suffered 4-1 away defeats.

While Manor were going down at Ryman League Division One Romford, Steve Cox grabbing their only goal in the second-half, Pitsea outfit Bowers lost at Spartan South Midlands League 100 per cent leaders Arlesey.

Bowers gave a good account of themselves at a club playing only their third game at their brand new ground.

Teenage goalkeeper Fred Higgs, given his chance now that Mark Hardingham has joined former boss Tony Cross at new club Tilbury, played a blinder for Bowers, but their hopes of forcing a replay ended when experienced player-manager John Warner was forced out of defence by injury just before half-time.

At that stage the score was goalless, but Arlesey took a 62nd minute lead through Adrian Campbell.

A two-goal blast from Greg Pike, after 74 and 78 minutes - the first a penalty for handball - wrapped up the game although Bowers refused to give up and got on the scoresheet through a Steve Warner effort with nine minutes to go.

Campbell got his second and Arlesey's fourth after 82 minutes, but Bowers came close to having the last word when, straight from the kick-off, the ball was touched to David Hope, who hit the upright with a tremendous effort.

Senior League FA Cup hopes now rest with Saffron Walden, 3-1 home winners over Hoddesdon, who now host Ryman Premier side Hitchin in a fortnight.

Canvey entertain fellow Ryman Premier outfit Boreham Wood at this stage, while Billericay Town must again visit Wisbech, who have proved a scourge to their ambitions in the AXA sponsored Cup frequently in recent years.

Results

FRIDAY

RYMAN LEAGUE

Premier Division: Dagenham and Redbridge 2, Billericay Town 1.

SATURDAY

RYMAN LEAGUE

Premier Division: Canvey 1, Carshalton Athletic 0.

Division 3: Great Wakering Rovers 1, Camberley Town 0.

FA CUP (sponsored by AXA)

First qualifying round: Arlesey Town 4, Bowers United 1; Romford 4, Southend Manor 1; Saffron Walden Town 3, Hoddesdon Town 1.

SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

Concord Rangers 1, Eton Manor 1; East Ham 0, Burnham Ramblers 2; Ilford 2, Hullbridge Sports 2.

AOF League Cup Group A: Bury Footbalol Academy 0, Sawbridgeworthy 6.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.