SCARBOROUGH should have won their Nationwide Conference clash with Canvey Island at a canter but paid the price for the lack of a cutting edge in front of goal.

The 1-1 draw was poor reward for their efforts which left head coach Nicky Henry unhappy after seeing another couple of points drift away.

He said: "We weren't hungry enough in front of goal as we created enough chances to have won a couple of games.

"But I suppose I must accept that you get games like this and at least our unbeaten run continues."

Boro led in the first half and should have added more goals, but a sweet strike from Junior McDougald 15 minutes from time saw the newly-promoted visitors take a point.

Tony Hackworth had set up Steve Burton to score his first Boro goal for the club in a 45-minute spell which saw Hackworth denied on a couple of occasions by Danny Porter in the Canvey goal.

However, too often the home forwards took an extra touch in front of goal enabling defenders to block efforts.

The part-timers from the Essex coast had shown considerable enterprise in starting and ending the game with a three-man attack - as did Boro - which produced an open game, but one in which the Seadogs always had the upper hand.

In the second half it became clear that it was not to be Boro's day when Burton saw a 48-yard lob towards an unguarded goal land on the roof of the net - to be followed by a sweet strike from Neil Redfearn which hit the bar.

Up to the equaliser the only danger created by Canvey came from former West Ham striker Lee Boylan - and that danger was limited to free-kicks - one of which brought a stunning save from Leigh Walker.

Leaders Barnet, 5-1 victors over Morecambe, Carlisle United and Gravesend & Northfleet remain the only Conference sides yet to lose a game this season.

Boro 1, Canvey Island 1

Scarborough: Walker, Baker, Cryan, Hotte, Nicholson, Thompson, Redfearn, Kerr, Hackworth, Gill (Gilroy 64), Burton (Senior 78).

Canvey Island: Potter, McGhee, Chenery, Sterling, Joseph (Berquez 58) Kennedy, Sedgemore, Duffy (Midgley 58), Gregory, Boylan, McDougald.

Referee: Shaun Proctor-Green (Lincolnshire).

Attendance: 1,732.

Updated: 11:42 Monday, September 06, 2004