Gravesend & Northfleet 3 Canvey Island 2

GRAVESEND shook off the disappointment of crashing out of the FA Trophy as they squeezed past Canvey in a tense derby.

Manager Liam Daish labelled the game a “war of attrition” but was delighted to get the three points.

Fleet got off to the perfect start when Andrew Drury scored inside two minutes from Jean-Michel Sigere’s pass after a long ball had the Canvey defence in trouble.

But the Islanders were level on 13 minutes when Lee Boylan’s cross was met by Dave Theobald and he drove in the equaliser.

Fleet were back in front in the 31st minute from the penalty spot. Mario Noto brought Justin Skinner down in the penalty area and Skinner dusted himself off to put Fleet back in charge.

Canvey had a couple of good efforts either side of the break, the best was squandered by Steve Burton in the 55th minute.

Nathan Bunce thundered home a header 20 minutes from time and Fleet had chances to further extend their lead in the closing minutes but failed to find a way through.

And just as in the FA Trophy heartbreak, Fleet made life hard for themselves as Canvey gave themselves a lifeline in stoppage time.

Skinner brought down Junior McDougald on the edge of the area and Boylan blazed home from the set piece, but in the end Fleet held on for the win.

Daish said: “It was a good win in the end. We just needed the three points after what happened in midweek. The club needed a bit of a lift after the Trophy game.

“It was a difficult game on a difficult pitch and the ball was very lively. It was a war of attrition but we won it.”

Gravesend: Pullen, Gledhill, Skinner, Drury, McKimm, Bunce, Poter (Pinnock 58), Essandoh (Anselin 63), Jackson, Suery, Sigere. Subs Not Used: Groombridge, Sidibe, Wilkerson.