Canvey Island 0-2 East Thurrock United

Canvey Island slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Isthmian North side East Thurrock United on Tuesday night in their penultimate pre-season friendly.

In a game where chances for both sides were at a premium, goals from Olly Miles and Harry Hope in the second half gifted the visitors the win and raised questions for Canvey ahead of their last friendly.

The first half saw little in the way of meaningful chances for either side. The visitors best chance came early on as Darnel Kithambo beat the offside trap on the left wing and charged towards the box. However, stand in Canvey keeper Rob Budd came out of his goal and managed to put the attacker off, the Rocks man slicing his cross wide when support arrived.

Meanwhile, the Gulls best chance fell to Mike Finneran on 28 minutes, as the defender got his head on a Conor Hubble corner but saw his effort land into the grateful arms of the visiting keeper.

The second half started in a much more eye-catching fashion than the first, with both sides having chances in the opening ten minutes.

First, Canvey went close through Elliott Ronto and Bradley Sach, the later having his effort swatted away by the goalkeeper after beating the offside trap.

The visitors then hit the crossbar from a stinging effort moments later before Canvey almost poked home from a corner shortly after, Finneran unable to keep his shot down after a small scramble in the box.

Both sides then went close from range before Canvey rung in the changes. The difference in tactics seemed to benefit the visitors however, with some better hold up play allowing them to take the lead on 65 minutes.

A swift ball towards the edge of the box found the waiting Olly Miles, who hit a well struck first time shot that curled accurately into the bottom corner, leaving Budd able to do little.

The visitors were hitting their stride after the goal as Canvey huffed and puffed but produced little in the way of chances. They were indebted to Budd again on 75 minutes, the keeper scrambling to keep a low hit strike from outside the area from crossing the line.

The Rocks weren't to be denied their second however and they found it on 79 minutes. Harry Hope got the better of the Canvey defenders as he cut into the box from the right. A little one-two with Miles allowed the winger to poke a shot home and seal the win for the visitors.

Canvey will look to do better in their final pre-season game, as they take on Isthmian South East side VCD Athletic at the Movie Starr Stadium this Saturday.