The Gulls were in action yesterday afternoon as they took on Colchester United U21s in their final pre-season outing, following Tuesday’s defeat to Millers Garry Kimble’s side were eager to round out their campaign with a positive performance.

The visitors had the better start out of the two sides as within the first two minutes, Canvey’s number one, David Hughes was called into action impressively palming away a powerful header. However, three minutes later the Young U’s were ahead. A mix-up from a goal-kick allowed the visitors to win back possession deep in the Gulls’ half and were quick to punish the mistake, with an excellent finish from the edge of the area, beating David Hughes. On the fourteenth minute the Gulls were close to levelling the clash, as Ross Wall narrowly headed wide his effort from Ernest Okoh’s cross.

Although growing into the game the Gulls had a close call as around ten minutes after Ross’ chance the Young U’s found the back of the net again, making it two-nil, however it was quickly ruled out thanks to the Linesman’s flag. Four minutes later Garry Kimble’s side had another opportunity to level the affair, after a well-worked goal-kick ended with Mitchell May sending a through-ball to Ernest Okoh, however the best he could do with the chance was strike the far-post. Ending the half on-top the last memorable effort of the first-half fell to Ross Wall as he blazed a powerful shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

Half time: Canvey Island 0-1 Colchester United U21s

The Referee blew his whistle to signal a start to the second forty-five, and within two minutes it was one-one. Mitchell May found himself back on the scoresheet with his second goal in a Canvey shirt, after receiving the ball inside the area on his left foot and powerfully finishing into the far-corner with his right. Ten minutes later, inside the fifty-seventh minute, a confident Mitchell May was urged to shoot once more, however this time he saw his chance rise over the crossbar.

Just past the hour mark and the Gulls were still looking for the lead as a Trialist decided to move up the pitch by taking on a couple of the Young U’s before making his way into the box, but he couldn’t find the back of the net, as his strike was fired over the bar. The match-up was going in favour of Canvey as chances were falling to Garry Kimble’s side however they were unable to put themselves ahead until the eighty-fourth minute where the Gulls were awarded a corner. The in-swinging delivery was well met in the air by centre-back Jack Cawley, however he couldn’t direct his header down and his effort was looped over the bar. Around six minutes after Jack’s chance the Referee called a close on our pre-season campaign as he finished our clash with Colchester United U21s.

Full-time: Canvey Island 1-1 Colchester United U21s