Grays Athletic 2-0 Canvey Island

From Mill Field

Ryman Premier League

 

GRAYS Athletic climbed back to joint top in the Ryman Premier League with a 2-0 win over Canvey Island.

Goals from Dumebi Dumaka and a bizarre own goal from former Grays star Glen Poole saw Mark Bentley’s side take the points, and hand them their first league win over Canvey in more than 13 years.

Grays started well in the encounter and hit the post early on, as Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson beat Jake Larkins but not the upright.

The stopper was called into action soon after, as he denied home captain Kenny Beaney from a corner, with Dumaka shooting wide soon after.

Canvey were struggling to create opportunities, although former Grays man Richard Halle did come close before the break.

Into the second-half, Steve Sheehan flicked a header against the bar in what was the Gulls’ best chance of the night but, after a slow start to the half, it was Grays who opened the scoring.

Dumaka, having failed to make contact with a cross, profited from a Larkins error as he prodded home after the stopper had failed to make contact with a punch.

But the goal of the night belonged to Poole, as his sliced effort beat Larkins all ends up to condemn Canvey to defeat.