Match report courtesy of David Powell

Canvey Island continued their pre-season with a 4-1 defeat against National South side Billericay Town at New Lodge.

Despite the heavy defeat, Canvey can take many positives from the game and for long periods especially in the first half, they more than matched their higher league opponents.

Matt Price in particular looked lively in the opening 10 minutes twice having efforts on goal.

Rowan Liburd had Billericay’s first chance of the game on 12 minutes lifting a cross from Darren Foxley over the crossbar.

Canvey though were putting some good moves together with Evans Kouassi at the heart of some of their best play.

On 27 minutes, the tricky winger gave Canvey the lead. His pass found Harrison Chatting in space and his thumping drive saw Bailey Vose turn his effort on to the crossbar. The rebound fell to Kouassi who showed great composure to pick his spot with the keeper stranded.

Price forced another save from Vose and then moments before half time, Chatting broke into the area from the right but Vose got a slight touch to his shot across goal to concede a corner.

The second half was a different affair and within the first minute, Billericay had drawn level. A lapse in concentration in the Canvey defence allowed Jai Reason to put Toyosi Olusanya through and the striker finished well past Bobby Mason.

Canvey responded well with Conor Hubble dragging a shot wide but then found themselves 2-1 down on 58 minutes when Olusanya broke through rounded Mason and scored from a tight angle.

It was 3-1 on 71 minutes with Olusanya completing his hat-trick via a rebound off of the post after being set up by Liburd.

Canvey though continued to create chances with a free kick from Hubble wide on the left forcing Vose to punch the ball clear.

Billericay completed the scoring on 82 minutes when substitute Norman Wabo broke down the left and fired in a shot that beat Mason at his near post.

Vose kept out a fierce shot from Canvey substitute Billy Knott in the last few minutes and although Canvey suffered their first defeat of pre season, they’ll take heart from a good first half performance in which they played some good passing football and tested a Billericay side two levels above them in the football pyramid.

Gulls are next in action on Tuesday night when they face Cheshunt at Park Lane.

By David Powell