Two late goals from Evans Kouassi saw Canvey advance into the Pitching In Isthmian League North Play-Off Final, beating Felixstowe & Walton United 3-1 under the floodlights at Park Lane on Tuesday evening.

In front of an excellent crowd of 1,059 spectators, the Gulls let an early lead slip in the second half, only for Kouassi to score his 31st and 32nd goals of the campaign to seal his side’s progress.

Canvey made a dream start to the match, taking the lead after only two minutes. Conor Hubble’s cross from the right was a perfect one, finding Matthew Price inside the six-yard box who headed home his 31st goal of the season.

The Gulls went on to create a string of good changes to score a second.

On 10 minutes Harrison Chatting switched play from right to left, finding Jey Siva. He played the ball into the feet of Elliott Ronto inside the box, getting it back and curling a right-footed shot over the bar from 20 yards.

Price should have scored two minutes later when Chatting played a lovely ball for Siva to run onto down the left. Once again he found Elliott Ronto inside the area, and this time he crossed to the back post from the left. Price was well placed, but this time his header went over the crossbar.

Canvey came even closer a minute later when Evans Kouassi stole possession from under the nose of defender Samuel Nunn cutting into the box from the left. Kouassi drove towards goal but hit the foot of the post with the keeper diving desperately to his right.

Felixstowe nearly punished these misses on the 15 minute mark when Callum Bennett sent over a dangerous cross from the right to the back post. Forward Zak Brown was sliding in but failed to make contact.

Matthew Price showed great ingenuity on 22 minutes, picking up the ball in his own half on the counter attack and spotting goalkeeper Callum Robinson off his line. He hit a powerful shot which had the keeper beaten, but drifted wide of the upright.

Bobby Mason was called into action to produce a tremendous save two minutes later. A ball into the box from the right was headed on and deflected off Rob Girdlestone and towards goal. Mason flung himself skywards and turned the ball over the bar in spectacular fashion.

Price did have the ball in the net once again on 27 minutes, but he knocked the ball out of Robinson’s hands in order to score and the goal was duly ruled out.

Leading 1-0 at the break, Canvey had a good opportunity to extend their advantage six minutes into the second half. Kouassi broke free down the right and sent the ball across the face of goal, but it was slightly behind Price who was unmarked at the back post.

Mason pulled off another outstanding save on 54 minutes when the visitors were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box to the left of goal. Andre Hasanally stepped up and struck a swerving effort over the wall and across goal, but the keeper did brilliantly to keep it out diving to his left.

Felixstowe levelled the scores on 65 minutes when Hasanally sent over a corner which defender Samuel Nunn got his head to and nodded home inside the front post.

The game looked to be heading towards extra time, especially after Robinson saved well from a powerful Price effort, diving to his right to beat the shot away with seven minutes remaining.

However, Evans Kouassi didn’t fancy playing another half hour. On 86 minutes he received the ball from Siva on the edge of the box to the left of goal, turning onto his right foot and hitting a low shot which went through the keeper and in.

The flying forward then made sure of Canvey’s progress in the first of five additional minutes. Latching onto a through ball from substitute O’Shane Stewart, Kouassi cut in from the left and slotted home to double his tally and send his side through to the Play-Off Final where they will host Brentwood Town.

Photo: KJA Sports Images