STEVE Tilson says he’s looking to add a striker to his Canvey Island squad after the departures of two players.

Central midfielder Ryan Edgar has followed winger Dean Mason out of the door at the Prospects Stadium, and Gulls boss Tilson said that could pave the way for a new arrival.

“We’ll be looking now to get one player in after those two have gone,” he said.

“Dean Mason and Ryan Edgar have gone because I just felt I needed to freshen things up a bit.

“I want to now bring in either a winger or a forward.

“We have a small squad and I know we have lost two midfielders, but I don’t think we need replacements there because we are already strong in the middle of the park.”

Tilson said Mason’s departure was a mutual decision between the player and the club.

He said: “Dean felt he should be getting more chances, but I felt there should have been more end product from him and that he should have been weighing in with more goals.”

The Canvey manager said the club was not in talks with any potential new players on Thursday afternoon, and added their will be no new arrivals in time for tomorrow’s home game with Kingstonian.

Saturday’s postponed game at Hendon, and the midweek wash-out in the cup against Hornchurch, means tomorrow’s match will be the Gulls’ first game in 10 days.

Their last league game was a goalless draw at Hastings United fortnight ago, and Tilson said it has been a frustrating wait.

He said: “We out-played Hastings and it was disappointing we did not finish them off.

“Bradley Woods-Garness was injured for that game and I think if he’d played we would have won.

“So we are itching to play again, and if we come through training without any injuries we will be in good shape.

“Kingstonian have had mixed results like we have.

“They are a good team at this level so we won’t be underestimating them, but I think we should be winning all of our home games so that’s what we’ll be aiming to do on Saturday.”

The Gulls come into the game on the back of three defeats, two draws and a win from their last six games. They start in 11th, two places and three points behind K’s, who have lost three, won two and drawn one of their last six.

Kingstonian’s last match was a 4-0 defeat to Dartford in the FA Trophy.

The game could also see the Gulls come up against their former centre back Dominic Sterling, although the 36-year-old has not been a regular in their side this season.

* Canvey will be running a supporters’ coach to their FA Youth Cup, third round tie with Northampton Town on Wednesday, December 12.

Seats will be £15 for adults, £12 concessions and £7 for under-12s accompanied by an adult, and can be reserved behind the bar at the Kingstonian game, or by calling Vic Bryant on 07917 726237.

East Thurrock will look to return to winning ways when they go to Lewes.

Rocks’ last outing remains Saturday’s disappointing 2-2 with Leiston after their midweek trip to Concord was called off because of the bad weather.

Top scorer Sam Higgins was awaiting the results of a scan this week after suffering a suspected reoccurrence of a hamstring problem after coming on as a sub against Leiston.

There’s a good-looking Essex derby at Ship Lane tomorrow as Danny Cowley takes his in-form Concord Rangers to Mark Stimson’s improving Thurrock.

The Beachboys have won six and drawn one of their last seven matches, while back-to-back wins have lifted Fleet out of the relegation places.

Billericay Town will look to end of a run of three defeats and exact some revenge on a Dover Athletic side who beat them 4-1 in Kent 10 days ago when they host them at New Lodge tomorrow.

Town felt the scoreline in Dover’s win in that reverse fixture flattered them, and they’ll be keen to set the record straight tomorrow.

They’ll also be keen to bounce back from a 5-2 midweek loss at Welling in which new keeper Nathan McDonald made his debut.

The former Southend United youth keeper will hope to keep his place after replacing Millwall loanee Luke Bartlett between the sticks.

Billericay will be showing the Chelsea versus West Ham game in their clubhouse from 12.45pm, and will have a promotional price on pints.

It’s first against second in the Essex Senior League as leaders Great Wakering host Burnham Ramblers, who won 4-1 at Sporting Bengal in the only league match to survive the bad weather this week.

And it’s derby day at Southchurch Park as Southend Manor host Basildon United. Bowers & Pitsea welcome Bethnal Green United to the Len Salmon Stadium, and Hullbridge Sports are at home to London Bari.