Canvey were left ruing missed opportunities as they slipped to a disappointing defeat at Tooting & Mitcham.

The Gulls dominated early on and almost went ahead when Danny Heale’s free-kick was tipped around the post.

And when Alex Rhodes hit the crossbar it looked like it would only be a matter of time before Canvey took the lead.

But the hosts got their noses in front on 29 minutes when Phil Williams poked home when the ball fell kindly for him following a good save from James Russell.

Canvey toiled after the re-start but were struggling to make inroads into the visitors’ defence, and they conceded a second in the 66th minute.

Russell blocked a goal-bound effort but Rob Howarth was on hand to gobble up the rebound.

After the game a disappointed Canvey boss John Batch said: “We made lots of chances but failed to score.

“And they scored with their only chance in the first half and their only chance in the second half. And if you don’t take your chances that is what happens.”

>Elsewhere in the Ryman Premier, AVELEY went down 3-1 at home to Hastings United. Millers took the lead courtesy of David Knight’s free-kick. But Kenny Pogue, Ade Olorunda and Fraser Logan struck late for the visitors.