CANVEY ISLAND 2 AFC SUDBURY 2

CANVEY Islan were relegated for the first time in 20 years when their late comeback just fell short of grabbing victory.

The already relegated visitors took the lead in the 42nd minute when a long ball released Liam Wales in behind the Canvey defence and he slotted home.

It was 2-0 on 57 minutes when Wales charged down the right wing and squared the ball across the face of goal and found Dylan Williams who turned it in from close range.

Canvey pulled a goal back with ten minutes to play when Ashley Dumas met Mitchell Gilbey’s corner on the volley and thundered his shot into the back of the net with his left foot from ten yards.

The Gulls rescued a point five minutes later when strtiker George Sykes did well to send Harrison Chatting in bursting into the area from the left.

Chatting miscued his shot but Callum Ibe was alert and tapped the loose ball into an empty net.

Canvey naturally surged forwards in search of a winner in the final stages.

And they forced Sudbury goalkeeper Marcus Garnham into three good saves while also having a penalty appeal turned down.

However, it was too little, too late for the home side and it meant that the Gulls will join their opponents in Ryman Division One North next season.