Canvey Island 0-2 Dulwich Hamlet

Match Report by David Powell
Photo Credit - Dan Goody

Canvey Island's poor end of season form continued on Saturday afternoon as they were defeated 2-0 by mid table Dulwich Hamlet at the Moviestarr Stadium.

It felt like a case of deja-vu from Tuesday, as despite dominating much of the possession, a depleted Gulls side once again limited in terms of clear cut chances, with lapses in concentration at the back again gifting the visitors a goal in either half to kill the contest.

It was Canvey who started the game the better, and in truth they dominated much of the first half, with little of merit in response from the visitors until the end.

They could have been ahead after just seven minutes, with a well delivered corner from Conor Hubble looking to find a striker in the box. Sam Higgins was first to rise to it, though appeared to be pushed by his marker in the process, and although he managed to get the ball beyond Will Lakin in the visitors goal, the officials adjudged his effort had gone in off his hand.
Despite the Gulls arguing their case for the foul, and after consultation with his linesman, the refferee kept to the decision, meaning the goal was ruled out.

This didn't seem to phase Canvey too much however as they kept coming forward.
Higgins was in the mood for a goal, and forced Lakin into a good save on eleven minutes, after he got on to the end of a ball forward from Hubble.

The pressure kept building, with the visitors offering little on the counter other than a few scuffed efforts wide of goal or comfortably collected by Sam Jackson. In the 34th minute, another dangerous ball into the box by Hubble deceived the visitors defence, but as it was flicked on, Bradley Sach couldn't get the vital touch needed to see it home.

Canvey's best chance of the game ironically came just a few minutes before they conceded. They were awarded a free kick just outside the box in the 44th minute, with Hubble stepping up to take responsibility. The midfielder hit a sweet strike over the wall that agonisingly clipped the crossbar, with Lakin looking beaten as he dived.

That let off allowed Dulwich the chance to get back up the other end and pressure the Gulls defence, with Roarie Deacon eventually able to whip in a ball from the right into the path of Danny Mills, who rose highest to power a header in at the far post in stoppage time, meaning despite all their possession, the Gulls were again behind.

The second half began in much the same vein as the first, though the chances seemed to dry up for Canvey, as balls into the box were mopped up by the Dulwich back four.

They had to be alert at the back themselves in the 60th minute, as the visitors broke forward with purpose after a mix up in the midfield. Canvey were indebted to a superb bit of tracking back from Tobi Tinubu though, with the defenders last ditch challenge preventing the visitors from doubling their lead.

Two minutes later, and Dulwich almost gifted Canvey an equaliser with a bizarre defensive mix up. Under pressure from Sam Higgins, one of the Dulwich back four sliced a clearance into near orbit, but was shocked to discover the crosswinds blowing it back as it fell. With Lakin off his line, the keeper had to swiftly backtrack to get hands on the ball with Higgins bearing down, and just about managed to keep the ball from fully crossing the line.

Luck seemed to be on the visitors side, and it put wind into their sales as they looked to turn the game in their favour.

Josh Shonibare could have sealed them the win on 75 minutes, after pressure in the Canvey box saw the ball fall kindly for him on the edge of the area, but he was unable to keep his shot down as he fired over.
He continued to cause Canvey problems however, and he launched another ball into the area that took a brave save from Jackson to keep it from being smuggled in at the back post.

Their pressure continued to build, but it seemed like they couldn't capitalise, with Mills the next player to miss the target as he dragged an effort just wide of the post. That allowed Canvey to ring the changes, with Louie Arrowsmith and Evans Kouassi - both recently returned from injury - entering the fray.

With later in particular began to creep in behind the Dulwich back four, and it gifted Canvey some chances near the end. First, Hubble was able to test Lakin with a curling effort, before a corner whipped on couldn't be properly cleared, but despite Jimmy Wallace recycling the chance, his effort was launched just over the crossbar.

It meant that in the 90th minute, the visitors were allowed to seal the victory as they scored again. Wanadio did well to make space in the box and lauch an effort at Jackson. Despite the keeper doing well to parry the effort, the loose ball fell kindly to an Ryley Scott, who was allowed a simple tap in to condemn the Gulls to another defeat.

Thankfully, a defeat for Margate elsewhere meant that the Gulls are now mathematically safe, and will compete another season of Isthmian Premier football next year.
With four games remaining, they'll be looking to restore some pride for themselves and the Canvey faithful, with a rearranged game against champions Hornchurch next up at the Moviestarr Stadium.