GEORGE Craddock says he is focused on Canvey Island’s strengths rather than AFC Hornchurch’s ahead of their crunch match at the top tomorrow.

The Gulls welcome the Isthmian North leaders to The Frost Hire Stadium looking to close the gap to seven points at the top.

While the Urchins have been stretching their advantage at the top in recent weeks, Canvey have been struggling for consistency having taken just four points from the last 12.

But Craddock, 22, is not worrying about that ahead of kick-off.

“It is a massive game and we knew we had a big run this month,” said Craddock, who has started the last 18 matches for Canvey. “We are both up the top end of the division and we both know what our goals are.

“Hornchurch will be up there come the end of the season. They have some very talented players but we know what we can do, we need to stay focused and worry about what we can control.

“It is the management’s job to do their homework on the opposition and ours to carry out their instructions on the pitch so I don’t look to much into who we are playing. If we play our game then teams struggle against us.

“We have been on and off recently,” added the midfielder. “We beat Grays and wanted to kick on from there but were beaten by Potters Bar and Barking.

“But if we do what we know we can do we should be fine, especially at home. It is about getting that consistency.”

Craddock has become a regular in midfield, after signing from Braintree Town in the summer.

Despite his age, Craddock has already been involved in four promotion winning campaigns at different clubs.

And he is looking to make it number five this year, although he accepts it will be tough with so many teams vying for the top spots.

“I am doing well,” he said. “I just want to play. The manager (Danny Heale) brought me in and I am loving it.

“We finish the year with tough games against Bowers & Pitsea and Dereham and it’s an exciting time to be playing football.”

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THE PREVIEW: Matches don’t get any bigger than this for Canvey Island, who will be determined to prove their title credentials against AFC Hornchurch.

The Urchins currently top the pile in the Isthmian North and have taken 19 points from the last 21 on offer.

Canvey have struggled in recent weeks and have won just once in the last five outings. However, that came against Haringey Borough, another rival for the top positions. A battling 2-2 draw at Maldon & Tiptree last weekend was more like it for Canvey, although a point isn’t much good in the Gulls’ bid for promotion.

Can Canvey get the better of the two fallen giants tomorrow?

MEN TO WATCH: Hornchurch have danger men all over the pitch although their most prolific goalscorer of recent times is defender Nathan Cooper. The centre-back has scored in his last three matches and in four of the last six.

WHAT THE BOSS SAID: “Early in the season everyone was winning and now people are slipping up and the only one exempt from that seems to be Hornchurch,” said boss Danny Heale. “We are at home and they will know they are in for a tough game.

“It is a game we can’t lose if we have aspirations of winning the league, which we do.

“The big ones are coming thick and fast and we need to carry on. A win could do great things for us. We would have that momentum and it sends out a message.”

WHEN & WHERE: Tomorrow, 3pm at the Frost Hire Stadium, Canvey Island, SS8 7PX

TEAM NEWS: Steve Sheehan returns from suspension.