Whitehawk 0-2 Canvey Island

Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Dan Magrath

Canvey Island took a big step towards making certain of another season of Isthmian Premier football, as they defeated Whitehawk 2-0 at the Enclosed Ground.

It was the Gulls first win since February 10th and their first win on the road since early November. They controlled large swathes of the play and coped well at the back to keep another clean sheet on a challenging surface.

The opening to the game was largely bogged down in the midfield, with Canvey adapting to playing 'uphill' on a slanted playing surface. They adapted though, and opened the scoring on the 20th minute.

A corner flicked in from the left was missed by home keeper Mitch Walker, allowing header down at the far post to fall perfectly into the path of Jamie Salmon, who couldn't miss as he fired home from yards out.

The momentum began building for the Gulls, with Salmon again coming close as he just couldn’t get the connection needed to flick a header in at the back post, before Ronto was charged down by a defender a few minutes later as he was about to shoot on target.

The hosts weren't out of the game though, and earned a few chances at goal through Charlie Harris and Tommy Brewer later in the half, but the opportunities were either dragged wide or straight at Sam Jackson.

Into the second half, and it was Canvey who started the stronger of the two teams. Their good work from set plays was crucial again in earning them the second goal.

Another well weighted ball found Elliott Ronto unmarked at the near post, with his header having the power to creep across the line despite Walker getting hands to it - the refferee confirming the ball had indeed crossed the line to see the Gulls 2-0 up.

Canvey were beggining to enjoy themselves, with Ronto, Paxman and Sach all having chances to test Walker again but either lacked the accuracy or the power to get a third.

Whitehawk - now battling uphill themselves in the second half - were thwarted time and again by the Canvey defence, with Wallace and Girdlestone doing well to mop up any balls into the box.

Sach again went close on 78 minutes as he fired just over, before the hosts began to dial up the pressure. Their best chances came towards the end of the half, with Sam Jackson called into action on 86 minutes as he did well to save at this near post.

As the game entered injury time, the last big chance went begging for the hosts, with Kayani's ball in to the back post just missed by Luca Cocoracchio, but by then, the match was as good as done, with the refferee blowing for full time minutes later.

It was a massive three points for the Gulls, who found the win they needed to put more breathing space between themselves and the bottom four. They now needed just 4 more points or for sides below them to falter in their next 2 games to secure mathematical safety for another season.

Their mission on Monday won't be easy however, as champion elect Hornchurch are the visitors to the Moviestarr Stadium.