A STOPPAGE time goal resulted in Mark Bentley being made to settle for a point in his first match in charge of Canvey Island.

The Gulls were pegged back by Tilbury, who sealed a 1-1 draw at the Frost Hire Stadium.

Meanwhile, table-topping Basildon United were also involved in a home draw, with Bury Town.

Bowers & Pitsea saw off Witham Town, while Great Wakering Rovers were beaten by Grays Athletic.

Canvey Island 1-1 Tilbury

Mark Bentley was unable to make a winning start as Canvey Island manager as the Gulls were made to settle for a point against Tilbury.

It looked as though Canvey were going to claim a valuable win at the Frost Hire Stadium, as Martin Tuohy opened the scoring with just five minutes to play.

But Abdus Salami’s late leveller allowed the Dockers to secure a share of the spoils.

Jordan Cox passed up the first clear-cut opportunity of the afternoon. Sam Collins’ dangerous cross found an unmarked Cox, but the frontman directed his header wide of the target.

Frankie Merrifield then headed a Collins corner goalwards, but Tilbury were able to clear the danger off the line.

The Dockers came close to grabbing the opening goal as former East Thurrock United man Lewis Smith cut inside and saw his deflected strike brilliantly tipped onto the post by Harry Palmer.

Ex-Bowers & Pitsea goalkeeper Rhys Madden did well to beat away a blistering drive from Gulls winger Josh Hutchinson with little more than 10 minutes to go before the break.

Hutchinson then also saw an effort cleared off the line, with Tilbury skipper Lewis Jaggs making the vital clearance.

Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between at the start of the second half. But Dockers substitute Toby Aromolaran came close to making a telling impact soon after coming off the bench as he appeared to have rounded Palmer after being put through on goal, but the Canvey shot-stopper did superbly to get a touch onto the strike before the hosts cleared.

Former Tilbury winger Ryan Melaugh was frustrated as his goalbound strike from 25 yards out was blocked, but Canvey opened the scoring from the resulting corner.

The visitors failed to clear the danger and Martin Tuohy was on hand to fire home from close range with just five minutes to play.

But Canvey were unable to close the game out as Salami levelled matters as the clash ticked into stoppage time.

There was still time for the Gulls to hit the back of the net again, but the linesman’s flag frustrated the hosts.

Witham Town 0-2 Bowers & Pitsea

A Simon Thomas double allowed Bowers & Pitsea to claim all three points at struggling Witham Town.

Quentin Monville found David Knight with a fine cross, but the home goalkeeper was equal to the frontman’s flicked effort.

Monville was then thwarted after being found well by Ben Sartain.

Bowers created a number of first half chances and Witham were forced to clear a strike off the line before Knight saw a shot blocked.

However, the visitors were to take the lead soon after the restart as Thomas, who joined from Isthmian North rivals Great Wakering Rovers last week, scored his first goal for the club.

It was double delight for Thomas moments later as the frontman found the bottom corner, after good play by Knight, to double his tally.

And although Thomas was unable to grab a third goal, Bowers were able to seal the win.

Grays Athletic 4-3 Great Wakering Rovers

A second half fightback was not enough as Great Wakering Rovers were defeated at Grays Athletic.

Grays raced into a three-goal lead before half-time to leave Wakering with a mountain to climb.

Dennis Oli grabbed the opener with just seven minutes on the clock and the hosts’ lead was quickly doubled thanks to Joao Carlos.

A Shomari Barnwell penalty made it three six minutes before the break.

However, quickfire goals from Ollie Woodhouse and Jake Gordon gave Garry Kimble’s side hope of staging a fine comeback.

Ade Cole scored to notch Grays’ fourth of the afternoon and although Marcus Bowers grabbed his first goal in Wakering colours, it was not to be for the visitors.

Basildon United 0-0 Bury Town

Basildon United were made to settle for a second consecutive draw as Bury Town frustrated the Isthmian North table-toppers.

The Bees went into the clash having been held to a 1-1 draw by Brentwood Town in midweek.

That was the first time Marc Harrison’s side had dropped any points this season.

Although Basildon were unable to maintain their 100 per cent winning record at the Ho Ho Stadium this term, the Bees remain unbeaten following their promotion from the Essex Senior League.