A STOPPAGE time goal resulted in Canvey Island missing out on victory at Bury Town.

Josh Hutchinson gave the Gulls an early lead at Ram Meadow, but Kyran Clements’ late leveller broke Canvey hearts.

And Mark Bentley admitted to feeling like his side had been defeated after conceding so late in the Isthmian North clash.

“It felt like a defeat and I was gutted for the boys because they put a real shift in away from home,” said the Gulls boss.

“We weathered the storm for 45 minutes and we didn’t want to sit back and let them attack us in the second half but we just managed the game so well.

“To get done by a free header from a corner in the 95th minute is disappointing but there are loads of positives to take from the game because each and everyone of the players gave their all.

“We had a really good shape and they didn’t look like breaking us down.

“I know they missed a penalty but they were hitting shots from 25 or 30 yards and I expect Harry Palmer not to have a problem with that.

“There have been real positives since the turn of the year.

“The results are getting better and that is resulting in confidence growing and the players believing in themselves a bit more.”

Canvey moved into a fifth minute lead as Hutchinson found the bottom corner of the net having been picked out by Adam Vyse.

Bentley’s side thought they had doubled their advantage with Martin Tuohy heading home with just 18 minutes on the clock, but the goal was disallowed for an adjudged push on Clements.

Bury were handed a golden chance to get back on level terms as Daniel Francis conceded a penalty, but Cemal Ramadan sent his spot-kick over the crossbar.

It looked as though the Gulls were going to return to south Essex with all three points but Clements found the equaliser at the death.

Canvey Island: Palmer, Brown, Collins (Francis 67), White, Warren, Topley, Agyakwa, Hutchinson, Tuohy, Merrifield, Vyse