Canvey Island 1
Cray Wanderers 1
Cray Wanderers made it nine games unbeaten as a Yahaya Bamba header 11 minutes into the second half earnt a point away at fellow promotion hopefuls Canvey Island.
The first half was pretty uneventful but the hosts took the lead after 21 minutes through Elliot Johnson. A deep inswinging corner from Conor Hubble to the far post was turned in from close range by Johnson for his first goal of the season.
This strike was enough to see the Gulls in at half time a goal to the good although it could have been more as both Evans Kouassi and Elliott Ronto forced Cray's Shaun Rowley into making saves.
The Islanders came out in the second half with a repeated dominance and Rowley was called into early action after 50 minutes. Bradley Sach chested the ball down to Kouassi who scampered forward and drilled an effort towards goal that Rowley got down to, to turn behind for a corner.
Brad Wellmen's side were left to rue this missed opportunity as five minutes later Cray equalised through a carbon copy of Canvey's opener. Former Canvey midfielder Anthony Cook delivered a deep corner to the back post that was headed back across goal and in by Yahaya Bamba for his second goal of the campaign.
The Wands went close to turning the game on its head with 20 minutes left to play when Dan Bassett led a Cray counter attack before cutting inside and curling an effort towards goal that flew just wide of the target.
Canvey dominated the final exchanges at the Movie Starr Stadium but they were unable to create any clear cut opportunities and the game finished one apiece.
A point for the Gulls means they are now two games unbeaten, but they miss out on the chance to move into the playoff positions.
A draw for Cray sees them lose ground on league leaders Hornchurch with the Wands now six points behind the Urchins. Although Neil Smith's men are eight games unbeaten away from home - not losing on their travels since September.
ATT: 411
Canvey Island: Mason, Tinubu, Mvemba, Hall, Ronto, Johnson, Edwards, Hubble, Sach, Paxman (Nzala 80'), Kouassi
Goals: Johnson 19'
Yellow cards: N/A
Cray Wanderers: Rowley, Wood, Skeffington (Chapman 57'), Weaire, Jones, Bassett, Derry, Cook, Christie, Ijaha (Clunis 24') (Allen 71'), Bamba
Goals: Bamba 55'
Yellow cards: Christie 59'
By Nathan Williams
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