Steve Tilson's tremendous recent run of scoring form continued at Park Lane on Monday as Canvey enjoyed a real Bank Holiday bonanza in their Ryman League Division One clash with fellow promotion-chasers Braintree Town.

Former Southend United favourite Tilson grabbed both Gulls' goals to bring his tally to seven in four games since manager Jeff King pushed him into an emergency striking role earlier this month.

The Islanders have gone nine games in all without defeat and must surely have a bright 1999 to look forward to.

They're slap bang in the middle of the promotion race and, in less than three weeks, visit crack Conference outfit Cheltenham Town in the FA Umbro Trophy.

To be honest, it was difficult not to feel some sympathy for the visiting Braintree line-up here. Pipped for the Second Division title by Canvey on the final day of last season, the Islanders again held the Indian sign over them.

It looked like being a far different story when Braintree, looking by far the better side, led 1-0 at the interval.

Their goal came after 14 minutes when defender Peter Cawley, once on Southend United and Colchester's books, used his giant presence to unsettle the home rearguard at a free-kick and touched him Simon Milton's set-piece.

In Milton the visitors undoubtedly had the game's most influential midfield player as he prompted young strikers Ian Gedney and Stefan Kendall to cause all kinds of problems.

One feared for Canvey when star defender Steve Ward was forced off through injury late in the first-half, but midfielder Mark Barry stepped back to do a Trojan job alongside Garry Britnell at the heart of the home rearguard.

Canvey, who had a let-off just before the break when Braintree had a goal controversially disallowed for an alleged foul on Melvin Capleton, were a different side on the resumption.

Within 10 seconds of the restart Tilson had equalised with a superb strike from outside the box.

Although Braintree did have one clear opening when overlapping full-back Russell Tanner seemed to have beaten Capleton, who clutched the ball behind him at the second attempt, Canvey were well on top now.

Chris Payne had a "goal" ruled out for offside and could then only watch in disbelief as a superb twisting Paul Catley save from his header prevented the former Billericay man netting for Gulls for the first time.

A sharing of the spoils looked certain until that man Tilson took advantage of hesitancy in the visiting rearguard to shoot home the winner four minutes into injury-time to signal celebrations among the majority of a 730-strong crowd.

Hitman - Canvey's Steve Tilson, left, gets stuck in with his Braintree opponent.

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