Canvey Island 4-4 Heybridge Swifts

Canvey Island scored twice at the death to earn a point in a thrilling 4-4 with league leaders Heybridge Swifts at Park Lane on Saturday.

Manager Mark Bentley made one change from the side that were beaten 3-1 by Maldon & Tiptree on Tuesday night, bringing in Freddy Eastwood into the attack in place of Rob Lacey.

The visiting squad included three former-Gulls, with George Craddock and George Cocklin in the starting XI and Harrison Chatting on the bench.

Heybridge took the lead on 13 minutes when a ball from the right was worked across to Emmanuel Osei who was unmarked inside the area. Osei shot first time which Rob Budd did well to save diving to his right, but the winger was able to collect the loose ball.

He drove to the touchline, getting past Dan Humphreys and sending the ball across the face of goal where Matt Price was on hand to head home from point blank range.

They forced Budd into another save four minutes later when a cross from the right found Odei Martin-Soronto unmarked inside the box. The midfielder struck a first time volley which was straight at the keeper who saved down by his post.

The Swifts doubled their advantage on 24 minutes when the ball was sent over from the left to the far side. A shot was poked forwards and turned over the line by George Cocklin from inside the six-yard box against his former side.

Canvey got themselves back into the contest on 37 minutes when Jason Hallett was fouled inside the box attempting to head a left wing cross goalwards. Ernest Okoh stepped up and slotted the penalty home, beating Luca Collins who had guessed correctly and dived to his right.

Rob Budd produced another save on 41 minutes, diving low to his right to prevent Evans Kouassi’s shot form 20 yards from creeping inside the post after he had robbed Freddy Eastwood of possession.

Heybridge restored their two-goal cushion in first half injury time when Matt Price played the ball through for Kouassi to run onto just inside the Canvey half. Having reached the area, he sent two Canvey defenders the wrong way before firing across goal and in from the left.

The Gulls made it 3-2 four minutes into the second half when Jason Hallett was fouled by Mason Hall 25 yards from goal. Matt Lock stepped and drilled an unstoppable free kick over the wall and into the top corner.

The visitors scored their fourth on 64 minutes when a ball across the area from the right from Matt Price was not defended. It eventually fell to the feet of Emmanuel Osei who was unmarked, allowing him to take a touch before firing home.

Canvey came close on 77 minutes when James White glanced a header towards goal from a Kane Gilbert corner. The ball was dipping in before being tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Luca Collins.

A tense finale was setup as the match entered the 90th minute when Canvey won a corner. The ball was whipped into the far post by Kane Gilbrrt where Michael Finneran rose to head home to give the Gulls a glimmer of hope.

The equaliser came two minutes later when a ball over from the left from George Woodward found substitute Rob Lacey. He struck a low shot goalwards which was steered home by the outstretched leg of Tobi Joseph to earn Canvey an unlikely point.