Horchurch 2-0 Canvey Island

Match Report by David Powell

Canvey Island suffered a 4th successive defeat in the league on Saturday afternoon, as they fell 2-0 to the leaders Hornchurch at Bridge Avenue.

In a much improved performance, the Gulls more than held their own for 60 minutes against their big spending opponents, but two second half goals from a clinical Urchins strike force meant that there was to be no Christmas cheer for Canvey this time.

One positive for the Gulls was the debut of former Hornchurch striker Sam Higgins, who joined the club a fortnight ago, and he proved to be a handful in the 30 minutes he played, but unfortunately couldn't find the back of the net on this occasion.

In an even first half, the hosts edged the possession, bit found a Canvey defence in determind form, with Crowhurst and Arrowsmith dealing with most attacks down the flanks, while Johnson and Hall cleared up much of what came into the area, leaving keep Sam Jackson with little of concern.
Femi Akinwande saw a chance headed over from a corner but despite Hornchurch's possession, they were able to create little in the way of dangerous chances.

The second half saw a more open affair, with both sides creating chances to take the lead.

Former Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town striker Sean Scannell was not far from opening the scoring for the Urchins, but he saw his angled drive fired wide early in the half.

Then, it was Canvey turn to enjoy a good spell of pressure. They created a few good chances, with Conor Hubble first seeing a dangerous cross loop on to the roof of the net, before Mason Hall forced Joe Wright into a scrambling save from a Hubble free kick. For a time, it looked like the Gulls might just force the issue on the league leaders.

The host always looked a threat though, so it didn't come as much surprise when on 69 minutes, a free kick was knocked down to Ollie Muldoon in the six yard box, and he made no mistake as he rocketed home a shot past Jackson to give his side the league.

Sam Higgins was introduced for his Canvey debut midway through the half, and he looked to force the issue against his former side as he got into a few shooting positions, though his old team mates got the better of him in this occasion as they did well to block the chances he created.

Higgins could do little to stop the hosts sealing the game on 78 minutes however. A loose ball in midfield was picked up by Scannell, who broke with rapid pace down the right and played the ball into Akinwande, who fired home emphatically to make the score 2-0.

A nasty injury to Mason Hall further sullied the afternoon for Canvey, with the defender replaced by Rob Girdlestone after 82 minutes.

Higgins almost halved the decifit as he headed wide in the dying minutes of the game, but despite his and the Gulls best, it was enough to stop them falling to a 4th successive league defeat, now looking over their shoulders with other side due to play on boxing day. Despite the loss though, there were more positives to take than recent weeks, with a more cohesive and disciplined display showing that they are more than a match for most of their day.

They'll need to take that battling ethos into their next two matches, with a long trip to Bognor Regis Town on the 30th, before a huge island derby with Concord Rangers on New Year's Day.