Match Report

Canvey Island went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Kingstonian at Kingsmeadow.

The Gulls produced a battling display but were undone by some sloppy defending at times and but for better finishing, Kingstonian may have won by a larger margin.

Canvey struggled to really test K's keeper Rob Tolfrey although they did have a couple of chances in the second half to snatch a point.

Gulls started brightly but despite their positive start, they found themselves 1-0 down after 9 minutes. Bashiru Alimi burst clear down the left hand channel and as goalkeeper James Russell came out from his goal, Alimi squared the ball to Bobby Traynor who had the simple task of stroking the ball into the empty net.

Canvey responded well with Craig Davidson sending a half volley wide from the edge of the area on 16 minutes but Kingstonian always looked a threat and their quick counter attacks often caused Canvey problems.

Alimi curled a free kick into the side netting from wide on the left on 33 minutes before the same player bagged Kingstonian's second on 37 minutes when he tapped home from close range after Russell could only punch a left wing corner into his path.

Alimi turned from hero to villain on the stroke of half time when he was booked for a reckless challenge on Gabriel Fanibuyan.

Kevin Dobinson stepped up and curled the resulting free kick from around 20 yards beyond Tolfrey and into the net.

It was the last kick of the half and gave Canvey some hope of a comeback.

Kingstonian though still remained the better side and came close on 57 minutes with a shot across the face of goal that the Canvey defence eventually scrambled away.

Gulls replaced Greg Cohen with Leon Gordon on the hour mark and the extra forward gave them more attacking purpose.

Chris Moore sent a header inches over the crossbar from Gordon's right wing corner on 63 minutes but a minute later, Kingstonian should have sealed the victory when a swift break from a corner saw Carl Wilson Denis break through on goal but Russell stood up well to parry the ball away to safety.

Wilson Denis was wasteful in front of goal again on 67 minutes when he rounded Russell but fired his shot wide from a tight angle.

Moore then saw a superb chance go begging when James Rowe knocked the ball down for the tall defender but he was only able to put his volley high over the crossbar.

Despite winning a number of corners in the final 15 minutes, Canvey couldn't force an equaliser and Kingstonian continued to threaten on the break as the game drifted towards its conclusion, with the Ks holding on to seal a valuable three points that consolidates their play off push.

Canvey will look to bounce back next weekend when they host play off chasing Wealdstone.

Oysterfleet Man of the Match:

KEVIN DOBINSON: A hardworking performance in midfield and a superb free kick, hauled Canvey back into the match.

Match Report by David Powell