Photo Credit - Nicky Hayes Photography

Canvey Island fell to their first defeat of their pre season campaign on Tuesday night, but will take plenty of positives from their performance against a strong Southend United side.

In front of a large crowd at Park Lane, a more regular Canvey XI intermingled with some promising trialists, took the fight to their full time opposition from the get go, launching plenty to work with for Finlay Dorrell and Kane Gilbert up front.

It was the former of the two who won Canvey a penalty on 17 minutes. Dorrell beat his marker for pace and as he looked to hook his opportunity over the onrushing Charlie Brown, the visiting keeper made contact with the striker - enough so for the referee to award a spot kick. Regular taker Conor Hubble stepped up and made no mistake as he sent Brown the wrong way.

The Gulls now had a lead to defend though, and they threw what they could infront of a pacy, well drilled Shrimpers side.
With the visitors creating chances and forcing sey plays, the Gulls defence could only hold out for so long though, and on 28 minutes the visitors were level. A corner whipped to the near post saw Harry Cardwell beat his marker to nod a header home.

The visitors had found their in on the right side of the box, and two minutes later a break into the area by Josh Walker saw him brought down by Jimmy Wallace. The striker took responsibility and beat Bobby Mason from the spot to flip the script.

Canvey were indebted to a good save by Bobby Mason just before the half to deny Walker a second. With half time signalled however, it gave both sides a chance to rotate their squads for the second period.

It was Canvey who began to see a lot of the play from then on, stifling their opponents as they looked to make a few chances of their own, playing some neat football in the process.

The best chance of the half for the Gulls fell to Elliott Ronto, as from a corner delivery, the midfielder glanced a head across the face of goal, with a trialist just unable to apply the finishing touch at the far post to stear it home.

Southend created a few chances of their own, including a stab at goal from substitute Jack Wood that required a save from Bobby Mason, but it was the Gulls that would control much of the rest of the half without getting the breakthrough they craved.

They now turn their attentions to another home match on Saturday, where neighbours Concord Rangers are the visitors to Park Lane.