The ‘Scholars’ played with ten men for over an hour but were able to take the game to the opposition until the last ten minutes when it was all about ‘all hands on deck’ to keep the visitors at bay as they introduced fresh legs up front to try to win the game – but ultimately it was one point each and great credit to the home side for preventing the visitors from being able to press home their numerical advantage.

The Gulls could have taken the lead after only two mins when George Sykes cut infield from the left and headed towards goal, but his shot hit the left hand post.

They did open the scoring on 21 mins when Mitchell Gilbey swung over a right-footed corner to the back post where there seemed to be a lot of pushing but Steve Sheehan rose highest and nodded back across goal for James Walker who finished with an acrobatic volley.

Potters Bar had a chance to equalise less than sixty seconds later when Eoin Casey raced through on goal. Their keeper Henry Newcombe came off his line and slid to claim the ball, but in doing so slid out of the area to concede a free kick. The last time I saw this happen it was a red but accordingly to the match officials, with defenders in close proximity this was not deemed to be an obvious goal scoring opportunity and as a result Newcombe was shown a yellow – how times have changed...

There was a red card in the 31st minute when midfielder Billy Adcock lunged in with a challenge on Jake Pitty for which he received his marching orders.

This did not deter the home side who saw more of the ball and belied their one man disadvantage in going forward.

However Canvey could had doubled their advantage in the dying moments of the first half after James Walker did well to turn his marker inside the area. Walker chipped a cross from the left to the back post which Frankie Merrifield struck on the volley, but his effort was kept out by Andrew Lomas on the post.

The ‘Scholars’ deservedly equalised five mins into the second half when after good approach work from Ben Ward-Cochrane and Sandro Costas Dias Fernandes, saw Eoin Casey send over an excellent cross from the left which found the run of George Nicholas at the back post. Nicholas rose well and thumped home a powerful header to level the scores.

It looked as though Canvey had regained the lead on 52 min when Sam Collins put a low ball into the area from 30 yards. The ball went through everyone and deceived goalkeeper Berkley Laurencin, sneaking inside the post. But there were strong protests from the home side pointing out that an offside Mitchell Gilbey had obstructed the goalkeeper’s line of vision - eventually the referee consulted his assistant on the line and the right decision was made.

The ‘Scholars’ continued knocking on the door, but also were defending well and putting bodies behind the ball which they did to good effect.

However, as the match entered the final ten minutes of normal time, Canvey switched up a gear and started to create chances to grab a late winner.

On 85 min George Sykes squared a ball across goal from the left which found substitute Ryan Charles. He was able to turn and get his shot off, but Berkley Laurencin managed to pull off a fine save to prevent the ball from creeping inside the upright.

Charles returned the favour for Sykes four minutes later, taking the ball into the area from the right before finding the striker. Sykes took a second to get the ball out from underneath his feet, eventually poking the ball towards goal and striking the post for the second time.

Very tight in the playoff spots – but all still very much to play for and another well earned point…

Team: Berkley Laurencin, Billy Baird (James Budden 88 mins), Andrew Lomas, Lee O’Leary (Hayes Thomas 79 mins), William Wambeek, Carl Pearce, George Nicholas, Billy Adcock, Ben Ward-Cochrane (Jordan Lawal 67 mins), Eoin Casey, Sandro Costa Dias Fernandes

Sub (not used): Michael Murray, Pierre Etienne

Man of the Match: Andrew Lomas – one of a number of committed performances today