Star marksman Wayne Vaughan landed a twin-blow in Kent to keep Canvey Island's Ryman League Premier Division title dream very much alive.

For, while Gulls were picking up all three points on their visit to the team immediately below them in the championship race, runaway leaders Farnborough were dropping two points for the second time in three days.

The Hampshire side were held 1-1 at near neighbours Aldershot, having achieved the same scoreline when relegation-threatened Slough visited them on Saturday.

It all puts the Islanders 21 points behind Farnborough with seven games in hand and, if Jeff King's men can win their last 12 League matches - including a vital trip to the leaders on May 1 - they will take the crown, and hopefully win promotion to the Nationwide Conference.

Much depends on how well manager Jeff King and coach Glenn Pennyfather are able to juggle their 19-man squad over the next vital couple of weeks - on Monday they achieved victory despite resting such top names as John Kennedy, Ben Chenery and Mark Stimson.

Vaughan, put through by fellow striker Neil Gregory, opened the Islanders account after ten minutes and Chris Duffy was only foiled by a great save from the home keeper soon after.

However, Robert Owen equalised for the homesters on the 20 minute mark, heading home a free-kick. Ashley Harrison in the visiting goal made three outstanding saves in the second-half and Duffy cleared another Gravesend attempt off the line.

However, at the other end, Steve Parmenter went close and Gulls got their vital winning goal after 85 minutes when Vaughan was on hand to convert a cross from Kennedy, who had come on as substitute at the far post.

Only a great late stop to foil Gregory saved Gravesend from a heavier defeat by a Canvey side which welcomed the League return of long-term injury victim Peter Smith.

Full details of ticket sales for the FA Umbro Trophy final at Villa Park against Forest Green Rovers on May 13 will appear exclusively in Echosport on Friday. Tickets go on sale from next Monday.

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