Tilson says Canvey need to make home a fortress for play-off hopes (From Basildon Recorder)

Tilson says Canvey need to make home a fortress for play-off hopes

12:08pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Sport By James Colasanti

STEVE Tilson says they need to make Canvey Island’s Prospects Stadium into a fortress for the remainder of the season if they are to have any chance of making the play-offs.

The Gulls, who host 19th place Wingate & Finchley today, are sitting nicely in third place in the Ryman Premier following Saturday’s excellent win at Kingstonian.

But the chasing pack all have games in hand and Canvey manager Tilson said that to give themselves a chance of holding them off they need to take maximum points off of visiting teams for the remainder of the season.

He said: “We know we’ve played more games than everyone else so all we can do is keeping picking up points – starting with Saturday – and see where that takes us.

“We’ve only got five home games left, and nine away, so it’s important we try and get wins in those home games because away from home it is not quite so easy.

“It’s important we start with three points on Saturday, but we’ve just got to make sure we don’t take Wingate for granted.”

James Rowe scored his first goal for the Gulls since his return to the club against the K’s, and Tilson said that was pleasing to see.

He said: “I think if we’re honest he’s well short of match fitness. He has not played for over a year and obviously he can’t train with us at the moment because he’s still up in Birmingham at the moment.

“He’s not going to catch up in terms of match fitness this season but he is a goal-scorer and he’ll always be in and around the box and now he’s got his first goal on Saturday hopefully he’ll get a few more.”

Tilson also revealed that budgetary restraints meant they could not bring in former Southend United man Merrick James-Lewis at the moment, after he played for the Gulls in the recent defeat at Lowestoft.