Canvey Island 0-2 AFC Sudbury

Canvey Island turned in a poor performance to lose 2-0 to AFC Sudbury at The Frost Hire Stadium on Saturday in the Bostik North.

Manager Mark Bentley made four changes from the side that were beaten 2-1 away to Heybridge Swifts a week earlier. Debuts were handed to new signings Adam Vyse and Jaedon Phillips, while Marlon Agyakwa and Josh Hutchinson were recalled.

Jordan Cox, Ryan Melaugh, Jack Simmons and Jose Figura were the men to drop out of the starting XI, the latter being held up in traffic on the A13.

The first chance of the afternoon went to the visitors on 12 minutes when they were awarded a free kick out on the right wing. Tom Munk swung in a delivery which missed everyone but hit the top of the crossbar.

Canvey should have opened the scoring four minutes later when Josh Hutchinson pulled the ball back from the touchline on the left and square from Frankie Merrifield. He shot first time from ten yards but put his effort the wrong side of the post.

AFC Sudbury took the lead soon afterwards when a swift counter attack saw the ball played across the box from the right and find the run of Reece Harris. The winger had not been picked up and put his laces through a right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

It was 2-0 six minutes later when James White fell over inside the area whilst in possession. Callum Harrison picked up the loose ball and slid it in for Tom Monk to score on his debut for the Suffolk-based side.

Adam Vyse came close to opening his account for the club on 58 minutes when he stretched to get his head on a right wing cross from Marlon Agyakwa at the back post. Vyse managed to loop the ball over the keeper but his shot was cleared off the line, with Jaedon Phillips’ follow up effort deflecting wide for a corner.

There were more chances for Canvey soon after, with George Allen having a header saved from a Marlon Agyakwa cross on 63 minutes.

A minute later a ball from deep on the left by James White found Adam Vyse on the edge of the box, but his left-footed volley flew inches over the crossbar.

Canvey threw bodies forward in search of a way back into the match in the latter stages, but the best chances fell to the visitors.

On 86 minutes Ben Hunter turned a defender and got his head down, running to the edge of the box and shooting low towards the bottom corner which Harry Palmer did well to save diving low to his right.

Substitute Liam Bennett then had a shot from a similar position having cut in from the right, this time forcing Palmer to fling himself in the opposition direction to keep the ball out.