A SENSATIONAL second-half free-kick from Canvey trialist Ty Smith earned them a 2-2 draw at home to Millwall in a pre-season friendly tonight.

Smith, who looks set to join the Gulls from Met Police, drove the ball into the top corner from 25 yards on 54 minutes to ensure honours ended even.

A bumper crowd of 705, including many local school kids given free admission, saw an entertaining clash as new Canvey manager Danny Heale locked horns with his friend, and Millwall boss for the night, Neil Harris.

Former Southend United striker Harris, who has taken up a coaching at the Lions, was given a lively introduction to management in an end-to-end start to the game which saw three goals in the opening 14 minutes.

Canvey struck first blood when former Colchester United man Tom Bender misjudged a long kick forward by keeper Dale Brightly, allowing Jay Curran to steal in and lob the advanced Andy Marshall.

But Lions were soon level as Josh Siafa drive in a wicked cross which Brightly spilled into the path of John Marquis, and he accepted the gift from six yards.

Marquis then turned provider as he sprung a very high line to beat the offside trap and then cut back from Niall McManus to scramble home at the second attempt.

But Canvey drew level nine minutes into the second half as the highly-rated Smith fizzed a laces-impact direct free-kick straight into the top corner to the delight of the lively home crowd.

Canvey: Brightly (Glanville 46), Billy Hawes (Hubbard 80), Dumas, Sellears, Bartley, Sands (Alaile 46), Curran (Ben Hawes 69), Smith (Joyce 80), Thomas, Woods-Garness (Slater 80), Bellotti (Henry 60) .

Millwall: Marshall, Siafa, Bender, McManus, De Havilland, Goodman (Nelson 80), Webb (Thompson 66), Onyedinma (Farrell 85), Marquis (Pavey 66), O'Brien, Penney.

MOM: Ty Smith (Canvey Island).