Match Report

Canvey Island suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to struggling Hastings United at The Pilot Field ground.

Gulls were second best for much of this game and were made to pay for a sloppy first half performance by conceding two goals in the final ten minutes of the half.

After their tremendous display in beating local rivals Billericay Town on Tuesday night, this was something of an anti-climax for Canvey and right from the first whistle, Hastings caused them plenty of problems especially down the flanks.

Wingers Zac Attwood and Antonio Gonnella were given far too much space at times and Canvey centre backs Richard Halle and Chris Moore were certainly busy during the first half as Hastings created the better opportunities.

The first opportunity of the game came on 4 minutes when Attwood found himself unmarked in the penalty area from a cross-field ball from the right by Gonnella. Attwood poked his effort from close range towards goal but the ball bounced off of the outside of the post and wide.

After a poor opening 15 minutes, Canvey gradually settled with Leon Antoine’s height up front causing the Hastings defence a few problems.

Jon Edwards fired a volley from the edge of the penalty area high over the crossbar and then on 25 minutes Jay Curran had Canvey’s best chance of the game.

Curran did well to escape a defender on the right hand edge of the area to go through on goal. He slipped the ball past Hastings’ keeper Greg Nessling but his effort struck the inside of the post and was cleared away by a defender.

Hastings gradually got on top again and on 36 minutes, Ricky Wiseman in the Canvey goal had to be alert to scramble an Attwood free kick from the edge of the penalty area around the post for a corner.

This lead to Hastings winning a string of corners as Canvey struggled to clear their lines and they eventually made their pressure pay with a goal on 37 minutes.

From a left wing corner, Sam Adams was left unmarked at the near post to head home.

Hastings were now playing with plenty of confidence whilst Canvey were struggling terribly to keep possession and gain any real foothold in the game.

Wiseman was forced into another fine save on 40 minutes diving full length to his left to push away a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

Canvey though crucially conceded again just before half time. Tarkan Mustafa made a rash tackle on Attwood on the edge of the penalty area and Lee Carey stepped up to fire the resulting free kick via the aid of a slight deflection into the bottom corner of the net.

It left Canvey with a mountain to climb in the second half and although their performance improved after half time, they still didn’t do enough to test Nessling in the Hastings’ goal.

On 48 minutes, Antoine showed good strength and skill to escape a defender down the right and play in a cross that Curran volleyed over inside the penalty area.

The Canvey defence though still looked alarmingly all over the place at times and only a fine save from Wiseman in denying the forward when he was clear on goal prevented a third goal on 52 minutes.

Canvey by now were having their best spell of pressure in the game but still rarely troubled the Hastings’ goalkeeper.

Gabriel Fanibuyan did well to beat a defender down the left but his cross was steered over the bar by Curran at the near post on 56 minutes.

Mustafa fired an effort from long range over the bar and Antoine headed over a right wing cross at the far post but Hastings still looked capable of snatching a third goal on the break.

On 63 minutes, Sam Adams had the ball in the net after curling home a superb shot from Charlie’s Side’s right wing cross. The referee though cut short the celebrations by disallowing the goal for offside.

Canvey replaced Fanibuyan with Steve Corbell on 73 minutes and Corbell shortly afterwards came close with an effort from the left hand edge of the area that flashed wide of the far post.

Despite Canvey’s pressure they couldn’t find a way through the Hastings’ defence with Scott Ramsay in particular having an outstanding match.

Hastings were able to comfortably see out the remaining ten minutes to secure a victory that takes them out of the relegation zone.

Canvey will now attempt to bounce back from a poor display with victory over Harlow Town next weekend at Park Lane.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

LEON ANTOINE: Looked Canvey’s main attacking threat in a very poor team performance.

Match Report by David Powell.