Canvey Island 3-2 Kingstonian

Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Dan Goody

Canvey Island picked up a valuable three points in the league on Saturday, as they got the better of Kingstonian with a 3-2 win at the Moviestarr Stadium.

In a back and forth affair, the Gulls took the lead twice, but were pegged back by a stubborn opponent, who were also looking for points in their battle to avoid the drop. A slice of fortune from a penalty save late in the game however saw Canvey regain the lead and they held on this time to take the win.

The Gulls were missing a raft of key players through injury before the game had even begun - so much so that assistant manager Sammy Knott was named amongst the substitutes almost five years after he retired from playing duties.

Those still in fighting fitness however started the game well and took the lead after just 9 minutes.
A break forward by Tinubu out wide saw him shift the ball into midfield and find Conor Hubble. The midfielder knocked the ball forward to Bradley Sach, who still had plenty to do, but held off his markers well to slice a low shot past the keeper to open the scoring.

The Gulls began to find their rhythm, and should have been two up not long after as another ball played into the area fell kindly to Sach, who it seemed like had all the time in the world, but somehow blazed over from a few yards out.

It gave Kingstonian the respite they needed after a slow start and as they recomposed, they began to ask questions of the Canvey defence. They had a goal ruled out for offside on 21 minutes before Sam Jackson was forced into his first save of the afternoon not long after to deny a headed opportunity at his goal.

Fortune would find the visitors however as they were awarded a penalty after Jack Munns had been adjudged to have fouled an attacker in the box. Experienced striker Eddie Dsane made no mistake from the spot as he caused the Gulls a headache for the second time this season to level the arrears.

Canvey had their own penalty shout on 30 minutes after Kai Brown appeared to have been brought down in the box. The referee however, had adjudged the winger to have dived, producing a yellow card much to the bafflement of the player and the Yellow Army behind the goal.

Jackson was forced into another crucial save just before half time after a strike from range stung his gloves. It proved vital as moments later, the Gulls would break forward once again and as they tested the visiting defence, a shirt pull in the box finally saw the referee level up his decisions as he awarded a penalty. Hubble stepped up and made no mistake, putting the ball past the experienced Tolfrey to give Canvey the lead at the break.

Into the second half and the visitors came out stronger as they searched for a lifeline back into the game. The earned themselves a few set plays, from which Dsane first went close as he curled a free kick just over the crossbar. On 57 minutes, they earned a corner after Jackson did well to save a chance at point blank range. He couldn't repeat the trick a second time however as from the resulting cross, Eoin Casey beat his marker to fire a header in at the near post and make the game a desmond.

The match began to open up, with both sides having chances to go in front. Canvey first went close after a free kick from the edge of the area was struck well by Hubble, but he saw Tolfrey get across his goal well to keep the strike out. Jack Munns went even closer from range nine minutes later as his looping strike deceived everyone, but crashed agonisingly off the crossbar.

The Gulls were indebted to Jackson at the other end however as he made a number of key saves to keep them in the game. First, he kept out an effort from Andy Somo before he smothered an effort on the break after the ball dropped loose in midfield, bravely denying a near certain goalscoring opportunity.

Canvey thought they'd taken the lead on 76 minutes after Kai Brown twisted and turned a shot away well in the area. The linesman had his flag raised however and despite the referee initially allowing play to continue, he ruled the strike out after consulting his assistant.

The Gulls would get the slice of luck they needed on 80 minutes however as they were awarded a penalty after a handball blocked an effort on target. With Hubble now substituted, it fell to his replacement Luca Albon to put away the spot kick. Tolfrey guessed the right way though to save his effort. There was little the keeper could do about the rebound however as the midfielder fired home to put Canvey ahead once more.

The game wasn't done yet however with 10 minutes to play, and it followed the open pattern much of the half had seen. Jamie Salmon went close for the Gulls as his effort from the edge of the box took a deflection that saw it creep just wide of the post.
At the other end, the Canvey goal was living a charmed life, and the backline had to be alert to keep the visitors out. Their best chance at an equaliser came in injury time, with Jackson at full stretch to keep out a curling effort, before following it up on the corner with a cracking save to keep out a powerful drive.

It was enough to see the Gulls claim a much needed three points as they continue to fight their way up the table. Their attention now turns to an Essex Cup tie away at Buckhurst Hill on Tuesday, before they're back at home to host Horsham on Saturday.