Match report by David Powell

Canvey Island began their first season back in the Isthmian Premier Division with a 3-1 defeat to Horsham at the Moviestarr Stadium.

In a match tighter than the scoreline perhaps suggested, Horsham were the more clinical side in front of goal, scoring twice just before half time to give themselves a convincing lead.

On a hot, humid day in front of a crowd of 323, Canvey gave starting debuts to Callum Sturgess, Reiss Chandler, Danny Parish and loanee keeper Rhys Byrne in goal.

They made a bright start to the game, with Evans Kouassi looking lively down the left. On 3 minutes, a jinxing run saw him play in a cross that Bradley Sach headed towards goal, but his effort was saved comfortably by visiting keeper Mitchell Beeney.

Elliott Ronto then toe poked an effort straight at Beeney before Tom Day then came close for Horsham on 11 minutes, with a header that went just wide.

A great run from Kouassi saw him thunder in a shot from 20 yards that just cleared the crossbar.

Horsham then began to enjoy more of the possession. Lucas Rodrigues’ fierce shot was helped over the crossbar by Byrne on 21 minutes and from the resulting corner, the ball came out to the edge of the penalty area where a thunderous shot crashed off of the woodwork with the keeper beaten.

Sach then nearly bullied his way through the Horsham defence but his shot was not powerful enough to beat the keeper. Beeney was then quick to show good reflexes to keep out Danny Parish’s downward header after a good cross from the left hand side once again.

Moments later however, Canvey were caught out as Horsham showed their quality with an incisive break on 41 minutes. The ball was played well into the channel, finding the dangerous Ajakaiye, who found himself in space in the penalty area as he finished well past Byrne.

Worse was to follow in first half injury time. Canvey failed to apply pressure on the right hand side and the resulting cross was swung towards Jack Mazzone, who was left unmarked to head home at the far post for the Hornets' second.

Horsham continued to threaten in the second half and their clinical touch in front of goal gave Ajakaiye his second of the afternoon on 54 minutes, with another good finish to make it 3-0 to Horsham.

That seemed to be game over but to their credit, Canvey kept battling and reduced the arrears when Kouassi grabbed the Gulls first goal back in the Isthmian Premier, getting on to a through pass and fired past Beeney on 62 minutes.

Canvey brought on Joe Paxman and Luca Albon for their debuts and pushed forward in search of a second goal that would put Horsham’s lead in doubt.

Gulls probed for a way back into the game but found the Horsham rearguard in good form, their tight game management now allowing an opportunity to fashion any more meaningful chances, allowing them to comfortably seeing out the remaining time.

Indeed, they almost grabbed a fourth after some good wing play by Rodrigues down the left in injury time, but Byrne was able to stop the close range effort at his near post.

Disappointment then for the Gulls on opening day. They'll now look to bounce back when they travel to Brightlingsea Regent on Tuesday night.